AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE Corp (ACIC)
SIC breadcrumb: Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate > Insurance Carriers > SIC 6331 Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1401521. Latest filing source: 0001401521-26-000015.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read ACIC's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read ACIC's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 335,439,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-09 |
| Net income | 106,837,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-09 |
| Assets | 1,072,732,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-09 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-09. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001401521.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 487,117,000 | 654,420,000 | 723,942,000 | 825,116,000 | 846,656,000 | 228,685,000 | 221,673,000 | 296,657,000 | 335,439,000 | ||
| Net income | 5,698,000 | 10,145,000 | 290,000 | -29,872,000 | -96,454,000 | -57,919,000 | -469,855,000 | 309,911,000 | 75,718,000 | 106,837,000 | |
| Operating income | 6,903,000 | 757,000 | -4,355,000 | -32,725,000 | -132,177,000 | -10,546,000 | -8,661,000 | 93,852,000 | 99,596,000 | 140,277,000 | |
| Diluted EPS | 0.26 | 0.27 | 0.01 | -0.70 | -2.25 | -1.35 | -10.91 | 6.98 | 1.54 | 2.15 | |
| Operating cash flow | 65,747,000 | 35,548,000 | 25,759,000 | 149,015,000 | -10,471,000 | -295,391,000 | -173,113,000 | -136,003,000 | 243,509,000 | 71,025,000 | |
| Capital expenditures | 3,149,000 | 5,237,000 | 4,068,000 | 21,896,000 | 10,848,000 | 5,271,000 | 3,047,000 | 196,000 | 22,000 | 155,000 | |
| Dividends paid | 4,974,000 | 8,991,000 | 10,268,000 | 10,280,000 | 10,313,000 | 10,350,000 | 2,589,000 | 0.00 | 24,102,000 | 0.00 | |
| Assets | 999,686,000 | 2,059,921,000 | 2,321,428,000 | 2,467,218,000 | 2,848,941,000 | 2,698,573,000 | 2,837,496,000 | 1,062,378,000 | 1,216,112,000 | 1,072,732,000 | |
| Liabilities | 758,359,000 | 1,522,796,000 | 1,781,059,000 | 1,943,353,000 | 2,431,342,000 | 2,366,616,000 | 3,019,535,000 | 893,613,000 | 980,452,000 | 755,167,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 241,327,000 | 537,125,000 | 520,230,000 | 503,138,000 | 395,753,000 | 312,406,000 | -182,039,000 | 168,765,000 | 235,660,000 | 317,565,000 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 84,786,000 | 150,688,000 | 229,556,000 | 112,679,000 | 215,469,000 | 239,420,000 | 212,024,000 | 229,893,000 | 137,036,000 | 198,762,000 | |
| Free cash flow | 62,598,000 | 30,311,000 | 21,691,000 | 127,119,000 | -21,319,000 | -300,662,000 | -176,160,000 | -136,199,000 | 243,487,000 | 70,870,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 1.17% | 1.55% | 0.04% | -3.62% | -11.39% | -25.33% | 25.52% | 31.85% | |||
| Operating margin | 1.42% | 0.12% | -0.60% | -3.97% | -15.61% | -4.61% | -3.91% | 33.57% | 41.82% | ||
| Return on equity | 2.36% | 1.89% | 0.06% | -5.94% | -24.37% | -18.54% | 183.63% | 32.13% | 33.64% | ||
| Return on assets | 0.57% | 0.49% | 0.01% | -1.21% | -3.39% | -2.15% | -16.56% | 29.17% | 6.23% | 9.96% | |
| Liabilities / equity | 3.14 | 2.84 | 3.42 | 3.86 | 6.14 | 7.58 | 5.30 | 4.16 | 2.38 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
Operating margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001401521-26-000015; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001401521-26-000015; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001401521-26-000015; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: PaymentsOfDividends. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividends.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001401521-26-000015; filed 2026-03-09. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-08. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001401521.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43101-Q1 | 2018-03-31 | 180,127,000 | 0.20 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 43101-Q2 | 2018-06-30 | 183,148,000 | 0.34 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2020-Q4 | 2020-12-31 | -33,556,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2021-Q1 | 2021-06-30 | -23,421,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2021-Q3 | 2021-09-30 | -15,118,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2021-Q4 | 2021-12-31 | -2,869,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2022-Q1 | 2022-03-31 | -33,257,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | -69,055,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | -70,884,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q4 | 2022-12-31 | -296,770,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 90,320,000 | 267,280,000 | 6.14 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 17,779,000 | 0.41 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 10,568,000 | 0.24 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 14,284,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 73,204,000 | 0.48 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 68,656,000 | 0.39 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 82,136,000 | 0.57 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 79,267,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 72,202,000 | 0.43 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 86,467,000 | 0.53 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 90,395,000 | 0.65 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 86,375,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 71,224,000 | 0.39 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 43101 ended 2018-06-30; accession 0001401521-18-000085; filed 2018-08-03. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2023 ended 2023-12-31; accession 0001401521-24-000024; filed 2024-03-15. Concept: ProfitLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:ProfitLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 43101 ended 2018-06-30; accession 0001401521-18-000085; filed 2018-08-03. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001401521-26-000029.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, as well as with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnotes under Part II. Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See "Forward-Looking Statements."
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overview
American Coastal Insurance Corporation (referred to in this document as we, our, us, the Company or ACIC) is a holding company primarily engaged in commercial property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. We conduct our business principally through our wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, American Coastal Insurance Company (AmCoastal). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “American Coastal Insurance Corporation,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company.
Our Company’s revenue is generated primarily from writing insurance in Florida. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for ACIC to write profitable business in such areas.
On May 9, 2024, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Sale Agreement") with Forza Insurance Holdings, LLC (Forza) in which ACIC agreed to sell and Forza agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Interboro Insurance Company (IIC), our former insurance subsidiary. Forza’s application to acquire IIC was approved by the New York Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS") on February 13, 2025, and the sale closed on April 1, 2025. The Company received cash proceeds totaling $25,679,000 from the sale resulting in a loss on disposal of $247,000, net of tax impacts. The Company also recognized a $1,348,000 loss, net of tax impacts, on IIC's fixed maturity portfolio, which was included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets prior to the sale. As a result, IIC results of operations and assets and liabilities are captured within discontinued operations and can be seen in Note 3 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements above.
Our policies in-force increased by 0.4% from 4,239 policies in-force at March 31, 2025 to 4,254 policies in-force at March 31, 2026.
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of American Coastal Insurance Corporation. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financial strength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
34
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2026
2026 Highlights
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 149,395 | $ | 197,852 | |||
| Gross premiums earned | 141,134 | 162,101 | |||||
| Net premiums earned | 65,611 | 68,272 | |||||
| Total revenues | 71,224 | 72,202 | |||||
| Income from continuing operations, net of tax | 19,254 | 19,711 | |||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | 1,637 | |||||
| Consolidated net income | $ | 19,254 | $ | 21,348 | |||
| Net income available to ACIC stockholders per diluted share | |||||||
| Continuing Operations | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.40 | |||
| Discontinued Operations | — | 0.03 | |||||
| Total | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.43 | |||
| Reconciliation of net income to core income: | |||||||
| Plus: Non-cash amortization of intangible assets | $ | 610 | $ | 609 | |||
| Less: Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | 1,637 | |||||
| Less: Net realized gains on investment portfolio | 6 | 1,382 | |||||
| Less: Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | 528 | (1,963 | ) | ||||
| Less: Net tax impact (1) | 16 | 250 | |||||
| Core income(2) | 19,314 | 20,651 | |||||
| Core income per diluted share (2) | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.42 | |||
| Book value per share | $ | 6.86 | $ | 5.40 |
(1) In order to reconcile the net income to the core income measure, we included the tax impact of all adjustments using the 21% corporate federal tax rate.
(2) Core income, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-Q is in "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" below.
35
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2026
Consolidated Net Income
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 149,395 | $ | 197,852 | |||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | (8,261 | ) | (35,751 | ) | |||
| Gross premiums earned | 141,134 | 162,101 | |||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (75,523 | ) | (93,829 | ) | |||
| Net premiums earned | 65,611 | 68,272 | |||||
| Net investment income | 5,079 | 4,511 | |||||
| Net realized investment gains | 6 | 1,382 | |||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | 528 | (1,963 | ) | ||||
| Total revenue | 71,224 | 72,202 | |||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 10,243 | 11,389 | |||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 22,393 | 23,466 | |||||
| General and administrative expenses | 10,703 | 9,506 | |||||
| Interest expense | 2,344 | 2,717 | |||||
| Total expenses | 45,683 | 47,078 | |||||
| Income before other income | 25,541 | 25,124 | |||||
| Other income | 212 | 1,070 | |||||
| Income before income taxes | 25,753 | 26,194 | |||||
| Provision for income taxes | 6,499 | 6,483 | |||||
| Net income from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 19,254 | $ | 19,711 | |||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | 1,637 | |||||
| Net income | $ | 19,254 | $ | 21,348 | |||
| Earnings available to ACIC common stockholders per diluted share | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.43 | |||
| Book value per share | $ | 6.86 | $ | 5.40 | |||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net income | 24.5 | % | 35.4 | % | |||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 15.6 | % | 16.7 | % | |||
| Expense ratio (2) | 50.4 | % | 48.3 | % | |||
| Combined ratio (3) | 66.0 | % | 65.0 | % | |||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 0.2 | % | — | % | |||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | (2.5 | )% | (3.2 | )% | |||
| Underlying combined ratio (4) | 68.3 | % | 68.2 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net is calculated as losses and loss adjustment expense (LAE) net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and the expense ratio, net. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-Q is in "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" below.
36
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2026
Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures
We believe that investors' understanding of ACIC's performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE ratio) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the net loss & LAE ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors and it is used by management to highlight the loss trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the net loss and LAE ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the net loss and LAE ratio. The underlying loss and LAE ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the net loss and LAE ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by su
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for 2025 as compared to 2024. Discussion regarding our results of operations and financial condition for 2024 as compared to 2023 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
OVERVIEW
American Coastal Insurance Corporation is a holding company primarily engaged in commercial property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. On July 10, 2023, we changed our corporate name from United Insurance Holdings Corp. to American Coastal Insurance Corporation. During the periods presented, we conducted our business principally through our wholly owned insurance subsidiary, American Coastal Insurance Company (AmCoastal). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “ACIC,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company.
Our Company’s revenue is generated from writing insurance in Florida. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for ACIC to write profitable business in such areas. On February 27, 2023, our former insurance subsidiary that wrote personal residential business in six states, United Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPC) was placed into receivership with the Florida Department of Financial Services (the "DFS"), which divested our ownership of UPC. The events leading to receivership and results of this subsidiary, now included within discontinued operations, can be seen in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
On May 9, 2024, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Sale Agreement") with Forza Insurance Holdings, LLC (Forza) in which ACIC agreed to sell and Forza agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of IIC. Forza’s application to acquire IIC was approved by the New York Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS") on February 13, 2025, and the sale closed on April 1, 2025. The Company received cash proceeds totaling $25,679,000 from the sale resulting in a loss on disposal of $247,000, net of tax impacts. The Company also recognized a $1,348,000 loss, net of tax impacts, on IIC's fixed maturity portfolio, which was included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets prior to the sale. As a result, IIC results of operations and assets and liabilities are captured within discontinued operations and can be seen in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
We have historically grown our business through strong organic growth, complemented by strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisitions of AmCo Holding Company, LLC (AmCo) and its subsidiaries, including AmCoastal, in April 2017.
Our policies in-force increased by 5.20% from 4,099 policies in-force at December 31, 2024, to 4,311 policies in-force at December 31, 2025.
Our business is subject to the impact of weather-related catastrophes on our loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE). During the year ended December 31, 2025, no named storms made landfall in our geographic footprint. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, five and two named storms, respectively, made landfall in our geographic footprint, resulting in retained pre-tax catastrophe losses of $25,442,000 and $729,000 respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we have consolidated our Operating and Underwriting Expenses and General and Administrative Expenses lines within our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income into the General and Administrative Expenses line. This was done in an effort to align more closely with our peer group for comparability. Accordingly, we have recast our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2023 to align with this format. We have also added a new note to our consolidated financial statements, Note 3, Disaggregation of Relevant Expense Captions, to provide the users of our financial statements with enhanced insight into this expense line.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of ACIC. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financial strength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 612,522 | $ | 647,805 | $ | 635,709 | |||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | 35,738 | (9,197 | ) | (31,026 | ) | ||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 648,260 | 638,608 | 604,683 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (341,408 | ) | (364,618 | ) | (342,623 | ) | |||||
| Net premiums earned | 306,852 | 273,990 | 262,060 | ||||||||
| Net investment income | 22,206 | 20,795 | 8,300 | ||||||||
| Net realized investment gains (losses) | 1,382 | (124 | ) | (6,789 | ) | ||||||
| Net unrealized gains on equity securities | 4,999 | 1,996 | 814 | ||||||||
| Other revenue | — | — | 15 | ||||||||
| Total revenue | 335,439 | 296,657 | 264,400 | ||||||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 46,040 | 69,319 | 46,678 | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 97,844 | 70,990 | 75,436 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 40,463 | 44,756 | 37,559 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 10,815 | 11,996 | 10,875 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 195,162 | 197,061 | 170,548 | ||||||||
| Income before other income | 140,277 | 99,596 | 93,852 | ||||||||
| Other income | 2,457 | 2,063 | 2,228 | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 142,734 | 101,659 | 96,080 | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 35,939 | 25,340 | 10,876 | ||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 106,795 | $ | 76,319 | $ | 85,204 | |||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | 42 | (601 | ) | 224,707 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 106,837 | $ | 75,718 | $ | 309,911 | |||||
| Earnings available to ACIC common stockholders per diluted share | $ | 2.15 | $ | 1.54 | $ | 6.98 | |||||
| Book value per share | $ | 6.51 | $ | 4.89 | $ | 3.61 | |||||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net income | 36.2 | % | 33.5 | % | 439.5 | % | |||||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 15.0 | % | 25.3 | % | 17.8 | % | |||||
| Expense ratio (2) | 45.1 | % | 42.2 | % | 43.1 | % | |||||
| Combined ratio (3) | 60.1 | % | 67.5 | % | 60.9 | % | |||||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 0.5 | % | 9.3 | % | 4.9 | % | |||||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | (1.9 | )% | (1.4 | )% | (4.9 | )% | |||||
| Underlying combined ratio (4) | 61.5 | % | 59.6 | % | 60.9 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net, is calculated as losses and LAE net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and expense ratio. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures”, below.
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DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
We believe that investors’ understanding of ACIC’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors, and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development from net loss and LAE. We use underlying loss and LAE figures to analyze our loss trends that may be impacted by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development on our reserves. As discussed previously, these two items can have a significant impact on our loss trends in a given period. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components both separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss and LAE. The underlying loss and LAE measure should not be considered a substitute for net loss and LAE and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $31,119,000 to $106,837,000, compared to net income of $75,718,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Drivers of net income for 2025 include increased gross premiums earned and decreased ceded premiums earned, driving an overall increase in revenues. In addition, we saw decreased losses and LAE, partially offset by increased policy acquisition costs. During 2024, the Company's net loss attributable to discontinued operations was $601,000, compared to net income of $42,000 during 2025.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums decreased by $35,283,000, or 5.4%, to $612,522,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $647,805,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Gross premium earned increased $9,652,000, or 1.5%, to $648,260,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 from $638,608,000 for the same period in 2024. Ceded premiums earned decreased $23,210,000, or 6.4%, to $341,408,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $364,618,000 for the same period in 2024. The breakdown of the year-over-year change in these premiums and new and renewal policies are shown in the tables below. More detail regarding our ceded premiums can be seen in our analysis of financial condition below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | |||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 612,522 | $ | 647,805 | $ | (35,283 | ) | ||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | 35,738 | (9,197 | ) | 44,935 | |||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 648,260 | 638,608 | 9,652 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | (290,212 | ) | (370,210 | ) | 79,998 | ||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (51,196 | ) | 5,592 | (56,788 | ) | ||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (341,408 | ) | (364,618 | ) | 23,210 | ||||||
| Net premiums earned | $ | 306,852 | $ | 273,990 | $ | 32,862 |
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||||
| New and Renewal Policies | 4,363 | 4,167 | 196 |
Ceded premiums earned decreased by $23,210,000, or 6.4%, to $341,408,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $364,618,000 for 2024. The increase is primarily driven by a $51,621,000 decrease in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. This decrease is attributed to the change in AmCoastal’s quota share reinsurance coverage during 2024 and 2025. We had quota share coverage in place at 40% for the first half of 2024, decreasing to 20% effective June 1, 2024. Effective June 1, 2025, this coverage was decreased further to 15%. This decrease was partially offset by a $28,010,000 increase in our catastrophe reinsurance coverage, driven by additional coverage purchased due to exposure growth and the decreased quota share cession rate.
Net investment income increased by $1,411,000, or 6.8%, to $22,206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $20,795,000 for 2024, driven by increased interest income due to a substantial increase in holdings and higher overall yield on our 2025 portfolio than our 2024 portfolio..
Net realized investment losses and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities increased by $4,509,000, or 240.9%, to a net gain of $6,381,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from a net gain of $1,872,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, driven by increased unrealized gains on our equity securities as market conditions were favorable and our holdings increased 40.4% year-over-year.
Expenses
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased $1,899,000, or 1.0%, to $195,162,000, from $197,061,000 for 2024. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Milton making landfall in 2024, which caused a large increase in catastrophe losses due to the $20,500,000 retention incurred from the storm. This was offset by an
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
increase in policy acquisition costs, the details of which can be seen below. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 46,040 | $ | 69,319 | $ | (23,279 | ) | |||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 7.1 | % | 10.9 | % | (3.8 | ) | pts | |||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 15.0 | % | 25.3 | % | (10.3 | ) | pts | |||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 1,485 | $ | 25,561 | $ | (24,076 | ) | |||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (5,827 | ) | (3,704 | ) | (2,123 | ) | ||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 50,382 | $ | 47,462 | $ | 2,920 | ||||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 7.8 | % | 7.4 | % | 0.4 | pts | ||||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 16.4 | % | 17.3 | % | (0.9 | ) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s expense ratios are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 97,844 | $ | 70,990 | $ | 26,854 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 40,463 | 44,756 | (4,293 | ) | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 138,307 | $ | 115,746 | $ | 22,561 | ||||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 21.3 | % | 18.1 | % | 3.2 | pts | ||||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 45.1 | % | 42.2 | % | 2.9 | pts |
Loss and LAE decreased by $23,279,000, or 33.6%, to $46,040,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $69,319,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 10.3 points to 15.0% for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 25.3% for the year ended December 31, 2024. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2025, prior year reserve favorable development was higher on both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses and catastrophe losses were lower. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2025 would have been 7.8%, an increase of 0.4 points from 7.4% during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Policy acquisition costs increased by $26,854,000, or 37.8%, to $97,844,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $70,990,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. The primary driver of the increase was a decrease in ceding commission income of $17,161,000, driven by the changes in the terms of our quota share reinsurance agreement described above. In addition, external management fees increased $9,807,000, as a result of a one percent increase in the management fee and profit share accrual pursuant to the renewal terms for the contract with AmRisc, LLC, effective June 1, 2024.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $4,293,000, or 9.6%, to $40,463,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $44,756,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, driven largely by a decrease in external spending for professional and consulting services, audit fees and legal fees totaling $2,471,000 as well as decreased depreciation and amortization of $1,256,000.
We experienced favorable reserve development in the current year and its historical impact on our net loss and net underlying loss ratios is outlined in the following table.
| ($ in thousands, except ratios) | Historical Reserve Development | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | $ | (4,198 | ) | $ | (7,982 | ) | $ | (12,694 | ) | $ | (3,704 | ) | $ | (5,827 | ) | ||||
| Development as a % of earnings before interest and taxes | (184.4 | )% | (71.5 | )% | (11.9 | )% | (3.3 | )% | (3.8 | )% | |||||||||
| Consolidated net loss and LAE ratio (LR) | 31.1 | % | 43.1 | % | 17.8 | % | 25.3 | % | 15.0 | % | |||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development on LR | (2.4 | )% | (3.6 | )% | (4.9 | )% | (1.4 | )% | (1.9 | )% | |||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses on LR | 5.4 | % | 23.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 9.3 | % | 0.5 | % | |||||||||
| Underlying net loss and LAE ratio(1) | 28.1 | % | 23.2 | % | 17.8 | % | 17.4 | % | 16.4 | % |
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
(1) Underlying net loss and LAE Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to the Consolidated net loss and LAE Ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K.
Investments
The primary goals of our investment strategy are to preserve capital, maximize after-tax investment income, maintain liquidity and minimize risk. To accomplish our goals, we purchase debt securities in sectors that represent the most attractive relative value, and we maintain a moderate equity exposure. Limiting equity exposure manages risks and helps to preserve capital for two reasons: first, bond market returns are less volatile than stock market returns, and second, should the bond issuer enter bankruptcy liquidation, bondholders generally have a higher priority than equity holders in a bankruptcy proceeding.
We must comply with applicable state insurance regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentrations of investments our insurance subsidiary can make; therefore, our current investment policy limits investment in non-investment-grade fixed maturities and limits total investment amounts in preferred stock, common stock and mortgage notes receivable. We do not invest in derivative securities, however, we do hold warrants as a result of our surplus note investment. Please see Note 5 for more information.
As of December 31, 2025, one outside asset management company, which has authority and discretion to buy and sell securities for us, manages our investments subject to (i) the guidelines established by our Board of Directors and (ii) the direction of management. Prior to August 2025, we engaged two outside asset management companies. The Investment Committee of our Board of Directors reviews and approves our investment policy on a regular basis.
Our cash and investment portfolios totaled $647,744,000 at December 31, 2025, compared to $540,811,000 at December 31, 2024.
The following table summarizes our investments, by type:
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and agency securities | $ | 92,118 | 14.2 | % | $ | 154,660 | 28.7 | % | |||||||||
| Corporate securities | 80,745 | 12.5 | 61,535 | 11.3 | |||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | 30,711 | 4.7 | 30,462 | 5.6 | |||||||||||||
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 27,078 | 4.2 | 17,197 | 3.2 | |||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 12,657 | 2.0 | 11,436 | 2.1 | |||||||||||||
| Public utilities | 9,246 | 1.4 | 5,284 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||
| Foreign government | 597 | 0.1 | 427 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||
| Total fixed maturities | 253,152 | 39.1 | % | 281,001 | 52.0 | % | |||||||||||
| Mutual funds | 56,637 | 8.7 | 31,818 | 5.9 | |||||||||||||
| Other common stocks | 5,048 | 0.8 | 4,976 | 0.9 | |||||||||||||
| Total equity securities | 61,685 | 9.5 | % | 36,794 | 6.8 | % | |||||||||||
| Other investments | 40,053 | 6.2 | 23,623 | 4.4 | |||||||||||||
| Total investments | 354,890 | 54.8 | % | 341,418 | 63.2 | % | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 198,762 | 30.7 | 137,036 | 25.3 | |||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | 94,092 | 14.5 | 62,357 | 11.5 | |||||||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments | $ | 647,744 | 100.0 | % | $ | 540,811 | 100.0 | % |
We classify all of our investments as available-for-sale. Our investments as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 consisted mainly of U.S. government and agency securities, securities of investment-grade corporate issuers, mortgage-backed securities, and states, municipalities and political subdivisions. Our equity holdings as of December 31, 2025 consisted of mutual funds and common stock. We held no equities as of December 31, 2024. Most of the corporate bonds we hold reflected a similar diversification. At December 31,
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
2025, approximately 82.6% of our fixed maturities were U.S. Treasuries or corporate bonds rated “A” or better, and 17.4% were corporate bonds rated “BBB” or “BB”.
Reinsurance
We follow the industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or "ceding", all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain primarily liable for the entire insured loss under the policies we write.
Our catastrophe reinsurance coverage consists of three separate placements:
1.
AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program, including catastrophe bonds (effective April 2024 and December 2024), in effect June 1 through May 31, annually, which includes excess of loss and quota share treaties providing coverage for catastrophe losses from named or numbered windstorms;
2.
AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement in effect January 1 through December 31, annually, which provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named or numbered windstorms and earthquakes; and
3.
AmCoastal's catastrophe aggregate excess of loss coverage, in effect Jan 1 through December 31, annually, which provides protection from all catastrophe loss events, including named windstorms, severe convective storms and winter storm events.
This reinsurance protection is an essential part of our catastrophe risk management strategy. It is intended to provide our stockholders with an acceptable return on the risks assumed by our insurance entity, and to reduce the variability of earnings, while providing surplus protection. Although reinsurance agreements contractually obligate our reinsurers to reimburse us for the agreed-upon portion of our gross paid losses, they do not discharge our primary liability. In the event one or more of our reinsurers fail to fulfill their obligation, the surplus of our statutory entity may decline, and we may not be able to fulfill our obligation to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. Additionally, we face the risk that actual losses incurred from one or more catastrophic events may be above the modeled expected loss resulting in losses exceeding our reinsurance coverage, which may result in a decline in surplus, and as a result we may not be able to fulfill our obligations to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. The details of our programs and the likelihood of a catastrophic event exceeding these two coverages are outlined below.
AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program provides occurrence-based coverage up to an exhaustion point of approximately $1,330,000,000 for a first occurrence and $1,676,000,000 in the aggregate. Under this program, the Company's GAAP retention on a first event is $29,750,000 ($14,000,000 retained by AmCoastal under statutory accounting principles (STAT retained), $15,750,000 (retained separately by the Company's captive)). The Company has purchased second and third event retrocession coverage, reducing its second event GAAP retention to $18,500,000 ($14,000,000 STAT retained by AmCoastal, $4,500,000 retained separately by the Company's captive) and third event GAAP retention to $3,750,000, based on three $100,000,000 loss events. AmCoastal’s program provides sufficient coverage for approximately a 1-in-203-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is roughly 0.5% estimated by blending the AIR 10, AIR 11.5, RMS 22 and RMS 23 catastrophe models using long-term catalogs including demand surge and based on total insured value at September 30, 2025 of $69 billion. AmCoastal’s program also provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-100-year event followed by a 1-in-50-year event in the same treaty year, the probability of which is less than 0.1%. While we believe these catastrophe models are very good tools and their output provides reasonable proxies for the probability of exhausting our reinsurance protections, they are imperfect, so actual results could vary dramatically from those expected.
AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes up to $88,200,000 for a first and second event, totaling $176,400,000 in the aggregate. This agreement provides sufficient coverage for approximately a 1-in-450-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is no more than 0.2%.
In addition to the programs described above, AmCoastal purchased a new catastrophe aggregate excess of loss coverage (the “CAT Agg” agreement) to mitigate our catastrophe frequency risk. This agreement provides coverage for in-force, new and renewal business.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Effective January 1, 2025, the new CAT Agg agreement provides $40,000,000 of aggregate limit (with a $20,000,000 per occurrence cap) in excess of zero after the $40,000,000 annual aggregate deductible has been met. The CAT Agg agreement limits our losses from all catastrophe loss events, including named windstorms, severe convective storms and winter storm events for the full year ending December 31, 2025.
Effective December 15, 2023, we agreed to commute a private reinsurer’s share of core catastrophe reinsurance coverage and replace this gap in coverage with new coverage provided by one of our other private reinsurers. This transaction resulted in a reduction in expense of approximately $6,300,000 and $15,700,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
Where we think prudent, particularly where premium rates are high relative to the risk, we retain risk whereby AmCoastal purchases reinsurance from Shoreline Re, our captive reinsurance entity. Shoreline Re participates on AmCoastal's all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement and AmCoastal's excess per risk agreement. In addition, Shoreline Re participates in a 45% quota share agreement with AmCoastal, which provides coverage for all catastrophe perils as well as attritional losses incurred.
The table below outlines the participation of Shoreline Re for each program, including premium received and capital at risk.
| Treaty | Effective Dates | Premium Collected / Cession Rate | Capital at Risk (1) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quota Share Agreement | 06/01/2025 - 05/31/2026 | 45% (2) | $ | 33,346,000 | (3) | ||||||
| All Other Perils Catastrophe | 01/01/2025 - | ||||||||||
| Excess of Loss Agreement | 12/31/2025 | $ | 1,296,000 | 2,304,000 | |||||||
| All Other Perils Catastrophe | 01/01/2024 - | ||||||||||
| Excess of Loss Agreement | 12/31/2024 | — | 4,500,000 | (4) | |||||||
| Excess Per Risk Agreement | 02/01/2024 - 01/31/2025 | 1,867,000 | 633,000 | ||||||||
| Quota Share Agreement (5) | 06/01/2024 - 05/31/2026 | 30% (2) | $ | 4,200,000 | (6) |
(1) Capital at risk is calculated by taking the aggregate losses Shoreline Re is subject to under the contract, less net premiums earned under the contract.
(2) This treaty provides or provided coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides or provided ground-up protection, effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(3) Net premiums earned based on estimated subject premiums at June 1, 2025.
(4) This treaty was amended on June 1, 2025 to include reinstatement, resulting in additional premium and aggregate losses.
(5) This treaty was commuted on June 1, 2025 with no impact on our consolidated results.
(6) Net premiums earned based on estimated subject premiums at June 1, 2024.
The table below outlines our quota share agreements in effect for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
| Reinsurer | Companies in Scope | Effective Dates | Cession Rate | States in Scope | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External third-party | AmCoastal | 06/01/2024 - 05/31/2026 | 20% (1)(2) | Florida | ||||
| External third-party | AmCoastal | 06/01/2023 - 05/31/2024 | 40% (1) | Florida |
(1) This treaty provides or provided coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides or provided ground-up protection, effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(2) The cession rate of this treaty was reduced from 20% to 15% effective June 1, 2025 to May 31 , 2026.
Reinsurance costs as a percentage of gross earned premium during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-at-Risk | (0.3 | )% | (0.3 | )% | |||
| Quota Share | (14.2 | )% | (22.5 | )% | |||
| All Other | (38.1 | )% | (34.3 | )% | |||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (52.6 | )% | (57.1 | )% |
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
We amortize our ceded unearned premiums over the annual agreement period, and we record that amortization in ceded premiums earned on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The table below summarizes the amounts of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (77,381 | ) | $ | (102,886 | ) | $ | (201,315 | ) | ||
| Excess-of-loss | (210,570 | ) | (265,015 | ) | (210,975 | ) | |||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (2,261 | ) | (2,310 | ) | (1,172 | ) | |||||
| Ceded premiums written | (290,212 | ) | (370,211 | ) | (413,462 | ) | |||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (51,196 | ) | 5,593 | 70,839 | |||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (341,408 | ) | $ | (364,618 | ) | $ | (342,623 | ) |
Current year catastrophe losses, which are disaggregated between named and numbered storms and all other catastrophe loss events, are shown in the following table.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and LAE (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | |||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | — | $ | — | — | % | ||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 4 | 1,485 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Total | 4 | $ | 1,485 | 0.5 | % | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | |||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 25,320 | 9.2 | % | ||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 241 | 0.1 | % | |||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 25,561 | 9.3 | % | ||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | |||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 600 | 0.2 | % | ||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 10 | 12,183 | 4.7 | % | |||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 12,783 | 4.9 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
See Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our reinsurance program.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustments
We generally use the term “loss(es)” to collectively refer to both loss and LAE. We establish reserves for both reported and unreported unpaid losses that have occurred at or before the balance sheet date for amounts we estimate we will be required to pay in the future, including provisions for claims that have been reported but are unpaid at the balance sheet date and for obligations on claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date. Our policy is to establish these loss reserves after considering all information known to us at each reporting period. At any given point in time, our loss reserve represents our best estimate of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of our insured claims incurred and unpaid.
Unpaid losses and LAE totaled $165,701,000 and $322,087,000 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Since the process of estimating loss reserves requires significant judgment due to a number of variables, such as fluctuations in inflation, judicial decisions, legislative changes and changes in claims handling procedures, our ultimate liability will likely differ from
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
these estimates. We revise our reserve for unpaid losses as additional information becomes available, and reflect adjustments, if any, in our earnings in the periods in which we determine the adjustments are necessary.
See Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our losses and LAE.
Discontinued Operations
On February 10, 2023, we announced that a solvent run-off for UPC was unlikely and on February 27, 2023, UPC was placed into receivership with the DFS, which divested our ownership of UPC. As a result, UPC, as well as the activities related directly to supporting the business conducted by UPC, qualify as a discontinued operation. For more information regarding the results of our discontinued operations, see Note 4 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition, On May 9, 2024, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Sale Agreement") with Forza Insurance Holdings, LLC (Forza) in which ACIC agreed to sell and Forza agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of IIC. Forza’s application to acquire IIC was approved by the New York Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS") on February 13, 2025, and the sale closed on April 1, 2025. The Company received cash proceeds totaling $25,679,000 from the sale resulting in a loss on disposal of $247,000, net of tax impacts. The Company also recognized a $1,348,000 loss, net of tax impacts, on IIC's fixed maturity portfolio, which was included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets prior to the sale. As a result, IIC results of operations and assets and liabilities are captured within discontinued operations and can be seen in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generate cash through premium collections, reinsurance recoveries, investment income, the sale or maturity of invested assets, the issuance of debt and the issuance of additional shares of our stock. We use our cash to pay reinsurance premiums, claims and related costs, policy acquisition costs, salaries and employee benefits, other expenses and stockholder dividends, acquire subsidiaries and pay associated costs, as well as to repay debt and purchase investments.
As a holding company, we do not conduct any business operations of our own and, as a result, we rely on cash dividends or intercompany loans from our management subsidiaries to pay our general and administrative expenses. Insurance regulatory authorities heavily regulate our insurance subsidiary, including restricting any dividends paid by our insurance subsidiary and requiring approval of any management fees our insurance subsidiary pay to our management subsidiaries for services rendered; however, nothing restricts our non-insurance company subsidiary from paying us dividends other than state corporate laws regarding solvency. Our management subsidiary pays us dividends primarily using cash from the collection of management fees from our insurance subsidiary, pursuant to the management agreements in effect between those entities. In accordance with state laws, our insurance subsidiary may pay dividends or make distributions out of that part of their statutory surplus derived from their net operating profit and their net realized capital gains. The risk-based capital (RBC) guidelines published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) may further restrict our insurance subsidiary’s ability to pay dividends or make distributions if the amount of the intended dividend or distribution would cause their respective surplus as it regards policyholders to fall below minimum RBC guidelines. See Note 16 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Part II, Item 5 for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company made capital contributions of $8,269,000 to its reinsurance subsidiary, Shoreline Re. In addition, the Company made a $15,000,000 contribution to form a new excess and surplus insurance entity, that has not yet begun operations. We may make future contributions of capital to our insurance subsidiary as circumstances require. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company made capital contributions of $1,265,000 to its reinsurance subsidiary, Shoreline Re. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we made no capital contributions to our subsidiaries.
During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company received dividends of $23,000,000 and $14,300,000, respectively from our insurance subsidiary, AmCoastal.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
In September 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., as agent (the “Agent”), of up to 8,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”). Sales of the Shares under the Agreement will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings”. The Agent is not required to sell any specific amount of Shares but has agreed to act as the Company’s sales agent for a commission equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales of the Shares. As of December 31, 2025, 4,373,000 shares had been sold under the Agreement resulting in commissions paid of approximately $1,181,000 and net proceeds of approximately $38,190,000. The Agreement will terminate upon the issuance and sale of all Shares subject to the Agreement, or the Agreement may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
On December 13, 2017, we issued $150,000,000 of senior notes (Senior Notes) that will mature on December 15, 2027 and bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum payable semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2018. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. We may redeem the Senior Notes at our option, at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon from the date of redemption to the date that is three months prior to maturity. On and after that date, we may redeem the Senior Notes at par. On December 8, 2022, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC announced a downgrade of our issuer and debt ratings from BBB- to BB+. As a result, pursuant to our agreement, the interest rate of our Senior Notes increased from 6.25% to 7.25% effective June 15, 2023. On July 21, 2025, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC announced an upgrade of the Company's issuer and debt ratings from BB+ to BBB-. As a result, pursuant to the Company's indenture, the interest rate of its Senior Notes decreased from 7.25% to 6.25% effective December 16, 2025.
As a result of claim activity from the current and prior years, we have an obligation related to the unpaid policyholder losses and unpaid LAE associated with the settling of these claims. As of December 31, 2025, our total obligation related to these claim payments was $165,701,000, of which we estimate $83,995,000 to be short-term in nature (due in less than twelve months), based upon our cumulative claims paid historically. While we believe that historical performance of loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in these estimated projected settlements, and as a result these estimates will differ, perhaps significantly, from actual future payments.
In addition to our unpaid loss and LAE, as of December 31, 2025, we have outstanding debt obligations related to our notes payable totaling $150,000,000. This is exclusive of interest costs, which we estimate will total $21,750,000 over the life of the debt, based on the current fixed interest rates of these notes. Our short-term obligation related to these notes payable total $10,875,000 in estimated interest payments and no principal payments. For more information regarding these outstanding notes, please see Note 12 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In connection with entering into contracts with our outside vendors, we have minimum obligations due to our vendors over the life of the contracts. Our main vendor obligations are related to underwriting and other administrative tools. Our total obligation related to these two categories of obligations are $1,937,000, and $250,000, respectively. Of these obligations, $627,000, and $250,000, respectively, are short-term in nature.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, (in thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 71,025 | $ | 243,509 | $ | (136,003 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 620 | (179,211 | ) | (2,544 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | (1,081 | ) | $ | (13,840 | ) | $ | 26,769 |
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows from our operating activities come from premium collections, reinsurance recoveries and investment income. The principal cash outflows from our operating activities are the result of claims and related costs, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition costs and salaries and employee benefits. A primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is the risk of large magnitude catastrophe events.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
During the year ended December 31, 2025, we experienced cash inflows of $71,025,000 compared to inflows of $243,509,000 during the year ended December 31, 2024. This change was driven by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $215,474,000, partially offset by an increase in net income, net of adjustments to reconcile net income to cash of $42,990,000. The change in our operating assets and liabilities is attributable primarily to settlements triggered by Hurricane Milton making landfall in the fourth quarter of 2024 with no similar activity occurring in 2025 as well as a large shift in our change in reinsurance payable as our payment schedule normalized in 2024, resulting in similar payments occurring for the same period in 2025.
Investing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our investing activities come from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of investments. We closely monitor and manage these risks through our comprehensive investment risk management process. The principal cash outflows relate to purchases of investments. Additional cash outflows relate to the purchase of fixed assets. The primary liquidity concerns with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors and market disruption. During the year ended December 31, 2025, cash provided by investing activities increased $179,831,000, driven by the purchases of fixed maturities in the prior year.
Financing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our financing activities come from issuances of debt and other securities. The principal cash outflows come from repayments of debt and payments of dividends. The primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is market disruption in the cost and availability of credit. We believe our current capital resources, together with cash provided from our operations, are sufficient to meet currently anticipated working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2025, cash used in financing activities decreased by $12,759,000 to cash used of $1,081,000 from cash used of $13,840,000. This was due primarily to $24,102,000 in dividends declared during 2024 and a decrease in proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $10,847,000 year-over-year.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Please refer to Note 2(v) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards that may affect us.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:
•
reserves for unpaid losses,
•
fair value of investments, and
•
goodwill.
In making these determinations, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance industry. It is reasonably likely that changes in these estimates could occur from time to time and result in a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prescribes when we may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, our results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish a reserve for a major contingency. Therefore, the results we report in certain accounting periods may appear to be volatile and past results may not be indicative of results in future periods.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and LAE
Reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the most significant accounting estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements. These reserves represent management’s best estimate of the amount we will ultimately pay for losses, and we base the
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
amount upon the application of various actuarial reserve estimation techniques as well as other material facts and circumstances known at the balance sheet date.
As discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we estimate our ultimate losses by using multiple actuarial methods to determine an actuarial estimate within a relevant range of indications that we calculate using generally accepted actuarial techniques. Our selection of the actuarial estimate is influenced by the analysis of our historical loss and claims experience since inception. For each accident year, we estimate the ultimate incurred losses for both reported and unreported claims. In establishing this estimate, we reviewed the results of various actuarial methods discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value of Investments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We are responsible for the determination of fair value of financial assets and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We use quoted prices from active markets and an independent third-party valuation service to assist us in determining fair value. We obtain only one single quote or price for each financial instrument.
As discussed in Note 5 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we value our investments at fair value using quoted prices from active markets, to the extent available. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. We also have investments in limited partnerships that require us to use the net asset value per share method of valuation to determine fair value.
See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for more information regarding the sensitivity of our fixed maturity portfolio to changes in interest rates.
Measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment
Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate, indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. We test goodwill for impairment by performing a quantitative assessment. Goodwill is impaired when it is determined that the carrying value of a reporting segment is in excess of the fair value of that reporting segment. The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments.
Please refer to Note 2(k) and Note 9 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001401521-25-000032.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for 2024 as compared to 2023. Discussion regarding our results of operations and financial condition for 2023 as compared to 2022 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Revised Items of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K on October 4, 2024. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
OVERVIEW
American Coastal Insurance Corporation is a holding company primarily engaged in commercial and personal property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. On July 10, 2023, we changed our corporate name from United Insurance Holdings Corp. to American Coastal Insurance Corporation. During the periods presented, we conducted our business principally through two wholly owned insurance subsidiaries: American Coastal Insurance Company (AmCoastal) and Interboro Insurance Company (IIC). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “ACIC,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company.
Our Company’s primary source of revenue is generated from writing insurance in Florida and New York. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for ACIC to write profitable business in such areas. During 2022, we also wrote commercial residential insurance in South Carolina and Texas; however, effective May 1, 2022, we no longer write in these states. In addition, during 2022, we wrote personal residential business in six other states; however on February 27, 2023, our former insurance subsidiary, United Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPC) was placed into receivership with the Florida Department of Financial Services (the "DFS"), which divested our ownership of UPC. The events leading to receivership and results of this subsidiary, now included within discontinued operations, can be seen in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
On May 9, 2024, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Sale Agreement") with Forza Insurance Holdings, LLC ("Forza") in which ACIC will sell and Forza will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of IIC. The aggregate purchase price for the shares will be equal to IIC's GAAP shareholder’s equity on the closing date. Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including New York Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS") approval of Forza's application for acquisition of control, and NYDFS approval of a new rate and form filing. On February 13, 2025, Forza’s application to acquire IIC was approved by the NYDFS. The Company and Forza have agreed to close on April 1, 2025. Given IIC is our last remaining personal lines entity and represents the final step in our strategic shift to becoming a specialty commercial underwriter, IIC results of operations and assets and liabilities are captured within discontinued operations and can be seen in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
We have historically grown our business through strong organic growth, complemented by strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisitions of AmCo Holding Company, LLC (AmCo) and its subsidiaries, including AmCoastal, in April 2017, and IIC in April 2016, and our strategic partnership with a subsidiary of Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited (Tokio Marine), which formed Journey Insurance Company (JIC) in August 2018. Effective June 1, 2022, we merged JIC into AmCoastal, with AmCoastal being the surviving entity.
As a result of our risk appetite in 2024, our policies in-force increased by 0.9% from 22,848 policies in-force at December 31, 2023, to 23,060 policies in-force at December 31, 2024. These values include IIC policies in-force, whose results are captured within discontinued operations.
Our business is subject to the impact of weather-related catastrophes on our loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE). Over the last three years, the frequency of these catastrophes has increased. As a result, we have experienced increased catastrophe losses incurred during the prior three years. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, five, two, and two named storms, respectively, made landfall in our geographic footprint, resulting in retained pre-tax catastrophe losses of $25,442,000, $729,000, and $57,906,000, respectively, excluding our former subsidiary, UPC. In addition, during 2022, we increased our loss and LAE reserves as a result of development trends from 2017’s Hurricane Irma, that indicated our ultimate gross loss estimate should be increased.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we have consolidated our Operating and Underwriting Expenses and General and Administrative Expenses lines within our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income into the General and Administrative Expenses line. This was done in an effort to align more closely with our peer group for comparability. Accordingly, we have recast our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 to align with this format. We have also added a new note to our consolidated financial statements, Note 3, Disaggregation of Relevant Expense Captions, to provide the users of our financial statements with enhanced insight into this expense line.
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of ACIC. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financialstrength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 647,805 | $ | 635,709 | $ | 528,160 | |||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | (9,197) | (31,026) | (53,972) | ||||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 638,608 | 604,683 | 474,188 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (364,618) | (342,623) | (251,259) | ||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 273,990 | 262,060 | 222,929 | ||||||||
| Net investment income | 20,795 | 8,300 | 6,043 | ||||||||
| Net realized losses | (124) | (6,789) | (6,512) | ||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | 1,996 | 814 | (1,968) | ||||||||
| Other revenue | — | 15 | 1,181 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 296,657 | 264,400 | 221,673 | ||||||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 69,319 | 46,678 | 96,109 | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 70,990 | 75,436 | 80,996 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 44,756 | 37,559 | 43,746 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 11,996 | 10,875 | 9,483 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 197,061 | 170,548 | 230,334 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before other income | 99,596 | 93,852 | (8,661) | ||||||||
| Other income | 2,063 | 2,228 | 10,342 | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 101,659 | 96,080 | 1,681 | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 25,340 | 10,876 | 26,233 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 76,319 | $ | 85,204 | $ | (24,552) | |||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | (601) | 224,707 | (445,414) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 75,718 | $ | 309,911 | $ | (469,966) | |||||
| Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | — | (111) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to ACIC | $ | 75,718 | $ | 309,911 | $ | (469,855) | |||||
| Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | 1.54 | $ | 6.98 | $ | (10.91) | |||||
| Book value per share | $ | 4.89 | $ | 3.61 | $ | (4.21) | |||||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net income (loss) | 33.5 | % | 439.5 | % | (307.4) | % | |||||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 25.3 | % | 17.8 | % | 43.1 | % | |||||
| Expense ratio (2)(5) | 42.2 | % | 43.1 | % | 56.0 | % | |||||
| Combined ratio (3)(5) | 67.5 | % | 60.9 | % | 99.1 | % | |||||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 9.3 | % | 4.9 | % | 23.5 | % | |||||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | (1.4) | % | (4.9) | % | (3.6) | % | |||||
| Underlying combined ratio(4)(5) | 59.6 | % | 60.9 | % | 79.2 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net is calculated as losses and LAE net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and expense ratio. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures”, below.
(5) Included in both the expense ratio and the combined ratio is amortization expense predominately associated with the AmCo and IIC acquisitions, which cause comparative differences among periods.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
We believe that investors’ understanding of ACIC’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors, and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development from net loss and LAE. We use underlying loss and LAE figures to analyze our loss trends that may be impacted by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development on our reserves. As discussed previously, these two items can have a significant impact on our loss trends in a given period. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components both separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss and LAE. The underlying loss and LAE measure should not be considered a substitute for net loss and LAE and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
Net income attributable to ACIC for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $234,193,000 to $75,718,000, compared to net income of $309,911,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in net income was driven by the deconsolidation of our former subsidiary, UPC, resulted in a gain of $238,440,000 in 2023. Drivers of net income for 2024 include increased gross premiums earned during the year, increased net investment income, an increase in ceded premiums earned, favorable prior year loss development during the year, and decreased policy acquisition costs, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums increased by $12,096,000, or 1.9%, to $647,805,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $635,709,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by state and gross written premium by line of business are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By State | 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 642,727 | $ | 635,602 | $ | 7,125 | |||||
| New York | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Texas | — | (9) | 9 | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by state | $ | 642,727 | $ | 635,593 | $ | 7,134 | |||||
| Assumed premium (1) | 5,078 | 116 | 4,962 | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by state | $ | 647,805 | $ | 635,709 | $ | 12,096 | |||||
| Gross Written Premium by Line of Business | |||||||||||
| Commercial property | $ | 647,805 | $ | 635,709 | $ | 12,096 | |||||
| Personal property | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by line of business | $ | 647,805 | $ | 635,709 | $ | 12,096 |
(1) Assumed premium written for 2024 and 2023 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By State | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 4,167 | 4,255 | (88) | |||||
| New York | — | — | — | |||||
| Total | 4,167 | 4,255 | (88) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner, commercial and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
Ceded premiums earned increased by $21,995,000, or 6.4%, to $364,618,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $342,623,000 for 2023. The increase is primarily driven by a $12,334,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. This increase is attributed to the change in AmCoastal’s quota share reinsurance coverage during 2024. We had quota share coverage in place at 40% for the first half of 2024 and 20% for the second half of the year, while in 2023 we had no coverage for the first half of the year and 40% coverage for the remainder of the year. This drove increased cessions over the twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
Net investment income increased by $12,495,000, or 150.5%, to $20,795,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $8,300,000 for 2023, driven by increased interest income due to a substantial increase in holdings and higher interest rates year-over-year.
Net realized investment losses and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities increased by $7,847,000, or 131.3%, to a net gain of $1,872,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from a net loss of $5,975,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, driven by decreased investment sales in 2024 resulting in decreased realized losses of $6,665,000 on our investment portfolio. During 2023 as a result of liquidity pressure from the receivership of our former subsidiary, UPC, we liquidated investments in a loss position. Please see cash flow for more information. The remainder of the change is related to our re-entering of the equity market during 2024, resulting in unrealized gains on the portfolio of $1,996,000.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Expenses
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased $26,513,000, or 15.5%, to $197,061,000, from $170,548,000 for 2023. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Milton making landfall in 2024, which caused a large increase in catastrophe losses due to the $20,500,000 retention incurred from the storm. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 69,319 | $ | 46,678 | $ | 22,641 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 10.9 | % | 7.7 | % | 3.2 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 25.3 | % | 17.8 | % | 7.5 | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 25,561 | $ | 12,783 | $ | 12,778 | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (3,704) | (12,694) | 8,990 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 47,462 | $ | 46,589 | $ | 873 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 7.4 | % | 7.7 | % | (0.3) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 17.3 | % | 17.8 | % | (0.5) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 70,990 | $ | 75,436 | $ | (4,446) | ||||
| General and administrative | 44,756 | 37,559 | 7,197 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 115,746 | $ | 112,995 | $ | 2,751 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 18.1 | % | 18.7 | % | (0.6) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 42.2 | % | 43.1 | % | (0.9) | pts |
Loss and LAE increased by $22,641,000, or 48.5%, to $69,319,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $46,678,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 7.5 points to 25.3% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 17.8% for the year ended December 31, 2023. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2024, prior year reserve favorable development was lower on both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2024 would have been 7.4%, a decrease of 0.3 points from 7.7% during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Policy acquisition costs decreased by $4,446,000, or 5.9%, to $70,990,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $75,436,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The primary driver of the decrease was an increase in ceding commission income of $6,959,000, driven by the changes in the terms of our quota share reinsurance agreement described above. This was partially offset by increased external management fees of $1,745,000, which fluctuated in conjunction with the year-over-year increase in gross written premium.
General and administrative expenses increased by $7,197,000, or 19.2%, to $44,756,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $37,559,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, driven by increased overhead costs such as increased amortization of capitalized software totaling $2,836,000 and an increase in salaries totaling $1,522,000. In addition, we saw an increase in the use of third parties for audit, tax, and legal services, totaling $1,065,000 and $620,000, respectively.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
We experienced favorable reserve development in the current year and its historical impact on our net loss and net underlying loss ratios is outlined in the following table.
| Historical Reserve Development | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($ in thousands, except ratios) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | $ | (4,198) | $ | (7,982) | $ | (12,694) | $ | (3,704) | ||||||||
| Development as a % of earnings before interest and taxes | (184.4) | % | (71.5) | % | (11.9) | % | (3.3) | % | ||||||||
| Consolidated net loss and LAE ratio (LR) | 31.1 | % | 43.1 | % | 17.8 | % | 25.3 | % | ||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development on LR | (2.4) | % | (3.6) | % | (4.9) | % | (1.4) | % | ||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses on LR | 5.4 | % | 23.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 9.3 | % | ||||||||
| Underlying net loss and LAE ratio(1) | 28.1 | % | 23.2 | % | 17.8 | % | 17.4 | % |
(1) Underlying net loss and LAE Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to the Consolidated net loss and LAE Ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K.
Investments
The primary goals of our investment strategy are to preserve capital, maximize after-tax investment income, maintain liquidity and minimize risk. To accomplish our goals, we purchase debt securities in sectors that represent the most attractive relative value, and we maintain a moderate equity exposure. Limiting equity exposure manages risks and helps to preserve capital for two reasons: first, bond market returns are less volatile than stock market returns, and second, should the bond issuer enter bankruptcy liquidation, bondholders generally have a higher priority than equity holders in a bankruptcy proceeding.
We must comply with applicable state insurance regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentrations of investments our insurance subsidiaries can make; therefore, our current investment policy limits investment in non-investment-grade fixed maturities and limits total investment amounts in preferred stock, common stock and mortgage notes receivable. We do not invest in derivative securities.
Two outside asset management companies, which have authority and discretion to buy and sell securities for us, manage our investments subject to (i) the guidelines established by our Board of Directors and (ii) the direction of management. The Investment Committee of our Board of Directors reviews and approves our investment policy on a regular basis.
Our cash and investment portfolios totaled $540,811,000 at December 31, 2024, compared to $311,874,000 at December 31, 2023.
The following table summarizes our investments, by type:
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | ||||||||||
| U.S. government and agency securities | $ | 154,660 | 28.7 | % | $ | 26,002 | 8.3 | % | |||||
| Corporate securities | 61,535 | 11.3 | % | 48,026 | 15.5 | % | |||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | 30,462 | 5.6 | % | 34,622 | 11.1 | % | |||||||
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 17,197 | 3.2 | % | 16,964 | 5.4 | % | |||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 11,436 | 2.1 | % | 9,485 | 3.0 | % | |||||||
| Public utilities | 5,284 | 1.0 | % | 3,288 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
| Foreign governments | 427 | 0.1 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total fixed maturities | 281,001 | 52.0 | % | 138,387 | 44.4 | % | |||||||
| Mutual fund | 31,818 | 5.9 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Other common stocks | 4,976 | 0.9 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Total equity securities | 36,794 | 6.8 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Other investments | 23,623 | 4.4 | % | 16,487 | 5.3 | % | |||||||
| Total investments | 341,418 | 63.2 | % | 154,874 | 49.7 | % | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 137,036 | 25.3 | % | 138,930 | 44.5 | % | |||||||
| Restricted cash | 62,357 | 11.5 | % | 18,070 | 5.8 | % | |||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments | $ | 540,811 | 100.0 | % | $ | 311,874 | 100.0 | % |
We classify all of our investments as available-for-sale. Our investments as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted mainly of U.S. government and agency securities, securities of investment-grade corporate issuers, mortgage-backed securities, and states, municipalities and political subdivisions. Our equity holdings as of December 31, 2024 consisted of mutual funds and common stock. We held no equities as of December 31, 2023. Most of the corporate bonds we hold reflected a similar diversification. At December 31, 2024, approximately 87.8% of our fixed maturities were U.S. Treasuries, or corporate bonds rated “A” or better, and 12.2% were corporate bonds rated “BBB” or “BB”.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Reinsurance
We follow the industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or "ceding", all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain primarily liable for the entire insured loss under the policies we write.
Our catastrophe reinsurance coverage consists of three separate placements:
1.AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program in effect June 1 through May 31, annually, which includes excess of loss and quota share treaties providing coverage for catastrophe losses from named or numbered windstorms;
2.AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement in effect January 1 through December 31, annually, which provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named or numbered windstorms and earthquakes; and
3.IIC’s core catastrophe reinsurance program in effect June 1 through May 31, annually, which provides protection from all catastrophe losses.
This reinsurance protection is an essential part of our catastrophe risk management strategy. It is intended to provide our stockholders with an acceptable return on the risks assumed by our insurance entities, and to reduce the variability of earnings, while providing surplus protection. Although reinsurance agreements contractually obligate our reinsurers to reimburse us for the agreed-upon portion of our gross paid losses, they do not discharge our primary liability. In the event one or more of our reinsurers fail to fulfill their obligation, the surplus of our statutory entities may decline, and we may not be able to fulfill our obligation to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. Additionally, we face the risk that actual losses incurred from one or more catastrophic events may be above the modeled expected loss resulting in losses exceeding our reinsurance coverage, which may result in a decline in surplus, and as a result we may not be able to fulfill our obligations to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. The details of our programs and the likelihood of a catastrophic event exceeding these three coverages are outlined below.
AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program provides occurrence-based coverage up to an exhaustion point of approximately $1,260,000,000 for a first occurrence and $1,610,000,000 in the aggregate. Under this program, our GAAP retention on a first event is $20,500,000 ($10,000,000 retained by AmCoastal under statutory accounting principles (STAT retained), $10,500,000 retained separately by our captive). We have purchased second and third event retrocession coverage, reducing our second and third event GAAP retentions to $13,000,000 ($10,000,000 STAT retained by AmCoastal, $3,000,000 retained separately by our captive). AmCoastal’s program provides sufficient coverage for approximately a 1-in-206-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is roughly 0.5%, estimated by equally blending the AIR and RMS catastrophe models using long-term catalogs including demand surge. AmCoastal’s program also provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-100-year event followed by a 1-in-50-year event in the same treaty year, the probability of which is less than 0.1%. While we believe these catastrophe models are very good tools and their output provides reasonable proxies for the probability of exhausting our reinsurance protections, they are imperfect, so actual results could vary materially from those expected.
AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes up to $172,000,000 in the aggregate. This agreement provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-450-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is no more than 0.2%.
IIC’s core catastrophe reinsurance program, which is reported under discontinued operations, provides coverage up to an exhaustion point of approximately $82,500,000 in the aggregate, with a retention of $2,500,000 per occurrence. Based on IIC’s probable maximum losses (PML), the program provides sufficient coverage for two 1-in-130-year events in the same season, indicating the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is no more than 0.1%.
Effective December 15, 2023, we agreed to commute a private reinsurer’s share of core catastrophe reinsurance coverage and replace this gap in coverage with new coverage provided by one of our other private reinsurers. This transaction resulted in additional expense of approximately $6,300,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, and a reduction in expense of approximately $6,300,000 and $15,700,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Where we think prudent, particularly where premium rates are high relative to the risk, we retain risk whereby AmCoastal purchases reinsurance from Shoreline Re, our captive reinsurance entity. Shoreline Re participates on AmCoastal's all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement and AmCoastal's excess per risk agreement. In addition, Shoreline Re participates in a 30% quota share agreement with AmCoastal, which provides coverage for all catastrophe perils as well as attritional losses incurred.
The table below outlines the participation of Shoreline Re for each program, including premium received and capital at risk.
| Treaty | Effective Dates | Premium Collected / Cession Rate | Capital at Risk (1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Perils Catastrophe Excess of Loss Agreement | 01/01/2024 - 01/01/2025 | — | $4,500,000 |
| Excess Per Risk Agreement | 02/01/2024 - 02/01/2025 | $1,867,000 | $633,000 |
| Quota Share Agreement | 06/01/2024 - 06/01/2026 | 30% (2) | $4,200,000 (3) |
(1) Capital at risk is calculated by taking the aggregate losses Shoreline Re is subject to under the contract, less net premiums earned under the contract.
(2) This treaty provides or provided coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides or provided ground-up protection, effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(3) Net premiums earned based on estimated subject premiums at 06/01/2024.
The table below outlines our quota share agreements in effect for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The impacts of these quota share agreements on the financial statements of our former subsidiary, UPC, are included in discontinued operations in 2023 and 2022.
| Reinsurer | Companies in Scope | Effective Dates | Cession Rate | States in Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External third-party | AmCoastal | 06/01/2024 - 06/01/2026 | 20% (1)(2) | Florida |
| External third-party | AmCoastal | 06/01/2023 - 06/01/2024 | 40% (1) | Florida |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & AmCoastal | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 10% (1) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| TypTap | UPC | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 100% (3) | Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
(1) This treaty provides or provided coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides or provided ground-up protection, effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(2) The cession rate of this treaty is reduced from 20% to 15% effective 06/01/2025 - 06/01/2026.
(3) This treaty provided coverage on our in-force, new and renewal policies until these states were transitioned to HCPCI and TypTap upon renewal.
Reinsurance costs as a percentage of gross earned premium during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-at-Risk | (0.3) | % | (0.3) | % | ||
| Quota Share | (22.5) | (21.7) | ||||
| All Other | (34.3) | (34.6) | ||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (57.1) | % | (56.6) | % |
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Reinsurance costs as a percentage of gross earned premium for IIC, which is now captured within discontinued operations, during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| IIC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Non-at-Risk | (2.5) | % | (2.9) | % | ||
| Quota Share | — | — | ||||
| All Other | (25.1) | (33.7) | ||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (27.6) | % | (36.6) | % |
We amortize our ceded unearned premiums over the annual agreement period, and we record that amortization in ceded premiums earned on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The table below summarizes the amounts of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (102,886) | $ | (201,315) | $ | (53,010) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (265,015) | (210,975) | (174,073) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cybersecurity | (2,310) | (1,172) | (2,269) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (370,211) | $ | (413,462) | $ | (229,352) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 5,593 | 70,839 | (21,907) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (364,618) | $ | (342,623) | $ | (251,259) |
The breakdown of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums for IIC, which is now captured in discontinued operations, can be seen in the tables below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | $ | (9,327) | (8,338) | $ | (14,041) | |||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cybersecurity | (946) | (931) | (798) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | (10,273) | (9,269) | (14,839) | |||||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 229 | (2,188) | 75 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (10,044) | $ | (11,457) | $ | (14,764) |
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Current year catastrophe losses, which are disaggregated between named and numbered storms and all other catastrophe loss events, are shown in the following table.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 25,320 | 9.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 241 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 25,561 | 9.3 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 600 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 10 | 12,183 | 4.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 12,783 | 4.9 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 52,076 | 23.4 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 212 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 9 | $ | 52,288 | 23.5 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
The impact of the current year catastrophes to IIC, which is now captured within discontinued operations, can be seen in the tables below.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 122 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 15 | 969 | 3.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 17 | $ | 1,091 | 4.1 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 129 | — | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 13 | 2,367 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 14 | $ | 2,496 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | — | $ | — | — | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 11 | 5,618 | 12.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 5,618 | 12.1 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
See Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our reinsurance program.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustments
We generally use the term “loss(es)” to collectively refer to both loss and LAE. We establish reserves for both reported and unreported unpaid losses that have occurred at or before the balance sheet date for amounts we estimate we will be required to pay in the future, including provisions for claims that have been reported but are unpaid at the balance sheet date and for obligations on claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date. Our policy is to establish these loss reserves after considering all information known to us at each reporting period. At any given point in time, our loss reserve represents our best estimate of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of our insured claims incurred and unpaid.
Unpaid losses and LAE totaled $322,087,000 and $347,738,000 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, unpaid losses related to IIC totaled $21,499,000 and $22,483,000 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which have been classified as discontinued operations.
Since the process of estimating loss reserves requires significant judgment due to a number of variables, such as fluctuations in inflation, judicial decisions, legislative changes and changes in claims handling procedures, our ultimate liability will likely differ from these estimates. We revise our reserve for unpaid losses as additional information becomes available, and reflect adjustments, if any, in our earnings in the periods in which we determine the adjustments are necessary.
See Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our losses and LAE.
Discontinued Operations
On February 10, 2023, we announced that a solvent run-off for UPC was unlikely and on February 27, 2023, UPC was placed into receivership with the DFS, which divested our ownership of UPC. As a result, UPC, as well as the activities related directly to supporting the business conducted by UPC, qualify as a discontinued operation. For more information regarding the results of our discontinued operations, see Note 4 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition, on May 9, 2024, the Company entered into a Sale Agreement with Forza in which ACIC will sell and Forza will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of IIC. The aggregate purchase price for the shares will be equal to IIC's GAAP shareholders' equity on the closing date. Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including NYDFS approval of Forza's application for acquisition of control, and NYDFS approval of a new rate and form filing. On February 13, 2025, Forza’s application to acquire IIC was approved by the NYDFS. The Company and Forza have agreed to close on April 1, 2025. A comparison of the results of IIC's operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 can be seen below.
IIC Year-over-Year Results
Net loss attributable to IIC for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased $1,687,000, or 56.1%, to $1,319,000 from $3,006,000 for the same period in 2023. The details of the revenues and expenses that drove this change are outlined below.
Revenue
IIC gross written premiums increased $5,370,000, or 15.6%, to $39,704,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $34,334,000 for the same period in 2023. This increase was driven primarily by rate increases. The change in IIC gross written premiums and new and renewal policies year-over-year can be seen below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | |||||||||
| Direct Written Premium | $ | 39,704 | $ | 34,334 | $ | 5,370 | |||||
| Total gross written premium | $ | 39,704 | $ | 34,334 | $ | 5,370 | |||||
| New and Renewal Policies (1) | 20,377 | 20,244 | 133 |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Net investment income decreased by $181,000, or 8.0%, to $2,093,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $2,274,000 for 2023, driven by decreased interest income due to decreased holdings year-over-year.
Expenses
Expenses attributable to IIC for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased $3,909,000, or 14.9%, to $30,172,000 from $26,263,000 for the same period in 2023. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in our loss and LAE incurred during 2024, driven by increased current year non-catastrophe losses incurred. The details of these changes can be seen below.
The calculations of our loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 18,738 | $ | 16,183 | $ | 2,555 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 51.5 | % | 51.7 | % | (0.2) pts | |||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 71.2 | % | 81.6 | % | (10.4) pts | |||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 1,090 | $ | 2,496 | $ | (1,406) | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (955) | 400 | (1,355) | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 18,603 | $ | 13,287 | $ | 5,316 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 51.2 | % | 42.5 | % | 8.7 pts | |||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 70.7 | % | 67.0 | % | 3.7 pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this document is in the "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" section of this Form 10-K.
The calculations of our expense ratios are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 8,336 | $ | 7,910 | $ | 426 | ||||
| General and administrative | 3,098 | 2,170 | 928 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 11,434 | $ | 10,080 | $ | 1,354 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 31.4 | % | 32.2 | % | (0.8) pts | |||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 43.4 | % | 50.8 | % | (7.4) pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to IIC increased $2,555,000, or 15.8%, to $18,738,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $16,183,000 for the same period in 2023. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 10.4 pts to 71.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 81.6% for the same period in 2023. Excluding catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 51.2%, an increase of 8.7 pts from 42.5% during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to IIC increased $426,000, or 5.4%, to $8,336,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $7,910,000 for the same period in 2023. The primary driver of the increase was an increase in agent commissions and credit card processing fees of $138,000 and $332,000, respectively, both of which vary with changes in gross written premium year-over-year. The increase in agent commissions was partially offset by a decrease in commission rate from 20% to 15% effective January 1, 2024.
General and administrative expenses attributable to IIC increased $928,000, or 42.8%, to $3,098,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $2,170,000 for the same period in 2023, driven by an increase in salary-related expenses of $579,000 and an increase in external professional service costs, such as legal and audit fees, totaling $350,000.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generate cash through premium collections, reinsurance recoveries, investment income, the sale or maturity of invested assets, the issuance of debt and the issuance of additional shares of our stock. We use our cash to pay reinsurance premiums, claims and related costs, policy acquisition costs, salaries and employee benefits, other expenses and stockholder dividends, acquire subsidiaries and pay associated costs, as well as to repay debt and purchase investments.
As a holding company, we do not conduct any business operations of our own and, as a result, we rely on cash dividends or intercompany loans from our management subsidiaries to pay our general and administrative expenses. Insurance regulatory authorities heavily regulate our insurance subsidiaries, including restricting any dividends paid by our insurance subsidiaries and requiring approval of any management fees our insurance subsidiaries pay to our management subsidiaries for services rendered; however, nothing restricts our non-insurance company subsidiaries from paying us dividends other than state corporate laws regarding solvency. Our management subsidiaries pay us dividends primarily using cash from the collection of management fees from our insurance subsidiaries, pursuant to the management agreements in effect between those entities. In accordance with state laws, our insurance subsidiaries may pay dividends or make distributions out of that part of their statutory surplus derived from their net operating profit and their net realized capital gains. The risk-based capital (RBC) guidelines published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) may further restrict our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions if the amount of the intended dividend or distribution would cause their respective surplus as it regards policyholders to fall below minimum RBC guidelines. See Note 16 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Part II, Item 5 for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company made capital contributions of $1,265,000 to its reinsurance subsidiary, Shoreline Re. We may make future contributions of capital to our insurance subsidiaries as circumstances require. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we made no capital contributions to our subsidiaries. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we contributed $81,000,000 and $11,200,000 to our former insurance subsidiaries, UPC and FSIC, respectively. The contribution made to FSIC was made prior to the merging of FSIC into UPC. In addition, we contributed $9,574,000 to our reinsurance subsidiary, Shoreline Re.
During December 2024, we received a $14,300,000 dividend from our insurance subsidiary, AmCoastal. During 2022, we received a dividend of $26,000,000 from AmCoastal.
In September 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., as agent (the “Agent”), of up to 8,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”). Sales of the Shares under the Agreement will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings”. The Agent is not required to sell any specific amount of Shares but has agreed to act as the Company’s sales agent for a commission equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales of the Shares. As of December 31, 2024, 4,373,000 shares had been sold under the Agreement resulting in commissions paid of approximately $1,181,000 and net proceeds of approximately $38,190,000. The Agreement will terminate upon the issuance and sale of all Shares subject to the Agreement, or the Agreement may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
On December 13, 2017, we issued $150,000,000 of senior notes (Senior Notes) that will mature on December 15, 2027 and bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum payable semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2018. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. We may redeem the Senior Notes at our option, at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon from the date of redemption to the date that is three months prior to maturity. On and after that date, we may redeem the Senior Notes at par. On December 8, 2022, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC announced a downgrade of our issuer and debt ratings from BBB- to BB+. As a result, pursuant to our agreement, the interest rate of our Senior Notes increased from 6.25% to 7.25% effective on June 15, 2023.
As a result of claim activity from the current and prior years, we have an obligation related to the unpaid policyholder losses and unpaid LAE associated with the settling of these claims. As of December 31, 2024, our total obligation related to these claim payments was $322,087,000, of which we estimate $124,642,000 to be short-term in nature (due in less than twelve months), based upon our cumulative claims paid over the last 23 years. This value includes IIC, which is classified as discontinued operations but is still our obligation until the sale of the entity is complete. While we believe that historical performance of loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in these estimated projected settlements, and as a result these estimates will differ, perhaps significantly, from actual future payments.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
In addition to our unpaid loss and LAE, as of December 31, 2024, we have outstanding debt obligations related to our notes payable totaling $150,000,000. This is exclusive of interest costs, which we estimate will total $43,500,000 over the life of the debt, based on the current fixed interest rates of these notes. Our short-term obligation related to these notes payable total $10,875,000 in estimated interest payments and no principal payments. For more information regarding these outstanding notes, please see Note 12 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In connection with entering into contracts with our outside vendors, we have minimum obligations due to our vendors over the life of the contracts. Our main vendor obligations are related to underwriting tools, claims and policy administration systems. Our total obligation related to these two categories of obligations are $1,605,000, and $525,000, respectively. Of these obligations, $1,605,000, and $225,000, respectively are short-term in nature.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows from our operating activities come from premium collections, reinsurance recoveries and investment income. The principal cash outflows from our operating activities are the result of claims and related costs, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition costs and salaries and employee benefits. A primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is the risk of large magnitude catastrophe events.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we experienced cash inflows of $243,509,000 compared to outflows of $136,003,000 during the year ended December 31, 2023. This change was driven by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $398,841,000, offset by a decrease in net income, net of adjustments to reconcile net income to cash of $19,329,000. The change in our operating assets and liabilities is attributed to the placement of UPC into receivership in 2023 as a result of the loss above, divesting our ownership of UPC during 2023.
Investing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our investing activities come from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of investments. We closely monitor and manage these risks through our comprehensive investment risk management process. The principal cash outflows relate to purchases of investments. Additional cash outflows relate to the purchase of fixed assets. The primary liquidity concerns with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors and market disruption. During the year ended December 31, 2024, cash used in investing activities increased $176,667,000, driven by the purchases of fixed maturities.
Financing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our financing activities come from issuances of debt and other securities. The principal cash outflows come from repayments of debt and payments of dividends. The primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is market disruption in the cost and availability of credit. We believe our current capital resources, together with
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
cash provided from our operations, are sufficient to meet currently anticipated working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2024, cash used in financing activities increased by $40,609,000 to cash used of $13,840,000 from proceeds of $26,769,000. This was due primarily to $24,102,000 in dividends declared during 2024 and a decrease in proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $15,172,000 year-over-year.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Please refer to Note 2(v) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards that may affect us.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:
•reserves for unpaid losses,
•fair value of investments,
•investment portfolio credit allowances, and
•goodwill.
In making these determinations, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance industry. It is reasonably likely that changes in these estimates could occur from time to time and result in a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prescribes when we may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, our results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish a reserve for a major contingency. Therefore, the results we report in certain accounting periods may appear to be volatile and past results may not be indicative of results in future periods.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and LAE
Reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the most significant accounting estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements. These reserves represent management’s best estimate of the amount we will ultimately pay for losses, and we base the amount upon the application of various actuarial reserve estimation techniques as well as other material facts and circumstances known at the balance sheet date.
As discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we determine our ultimate losses by using multiple actuarial methods to determine an actuarial estimate within a relevant range of indications that we calculate using generally accepted actuarial techniques. Our selection of the actuarial estimate is influenced by the analysis of our historical loss and claims experience since inception. For each accident year, we estimate the ultimate incurred losses for both reported and unreported claims. In establishing this estimate, we reviewed the results of various actuarial methods discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value of Investments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We are responsible for the determination of fair value of financial assets and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We use quoted prices from active markets and an independent third-party valuation service to assist us in determining fair value. We obtain only one single quote or price for each financial instrument.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
As discussed in Note 5 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we value our investments at fair value using quoted prices from active markets, to the extent available. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. We also have investments in limited partnerships that require us to use the net asset value per share method of valuation to determine fair value.
See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for more information regarding the sensitivity of our fixed maturity portfolio to changes in interest rates.
Investment Portfolio Credit Allowances
For investments classified as available for sale, the difference between fair value and cost or amortized cost for fixed income securities is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and is not reflected in our net loss of any period until reclassified to net loss upon the consummation of a transaction with an unrelated third party. We have a portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be impaired as the result of a credit loss.
For each fixed-income security in an unrealized loss position, if we determine that we intend to sell the security or that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the cost or amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity needs, contractual or regulatory requirements, the security’s entire decline in fair value is recorded in earnings.
If our management decides not to sell the fixed-income security and it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the fixed-income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. This is typically indicated by a change in the rating of the security assigned by a rating agency, and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security or industry, among other factors. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss may exist, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses will be recorded in earnings. Credit loss is limited to the difference between a security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. Any additional impairment not recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings. The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If we determine that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, we may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.
Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 (ASU 2016-01) as of January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, including impairment write-downs, being recognized in the revenue section of our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
See Note 2(b) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our credit loss testing.
Measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment
Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate, indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. We test goodwill for impairment by performing a quantitative assessment. Goodwill is impaired when it is determined that the carrying value of a reporting segment is in excess of the fair value of that reporting segment. The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments.
Please refer to Note 2(k) and Note 9 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment.
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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001401521-24-000024.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for 2023 as compared to 2022. Discussion regarding our results of operations and financial condition for 2022 as compared to 2021 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the Revised Items of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K on September 19, 2023. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
OVERVIEW
American Coastal Insurance Corporation is a holding company primarily engaged in commercial and personal property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. On July 10, 2023, we changed our corporate name from United Insurance Holdings Corp. to American Coastal Insurance Corporation. During the periods presented, we conducted our business principally through two wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries: American Coastal Insurance Company (AmCoastal) and Interboro Insurance Company (IIC). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “ACIC,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company.
Our Company’s primary source of revenue is generated from writing insurance in Florida and New York. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for ACIC to write profitable business in such areas. During 2022, we also wrote commercial residential insurance in South Carolina and Texas, however, effective May 1, 2022, we no longer write in these states. In addition, during 2022 we wrote personal residential business in six other states, however on February 27, 2023, our former insurance subsidiary, United Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPC) was placed into receivership with the Florida Department of Financial Services (the "DFS"), which divested our ownership of UPC. The events leading to receivership and results of this subsidiary, now included within discontinued operations, can be seen in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.
We have historically grown our business organically, complemented by strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisitions of AmCo Holding Company, LLC (AmCo) and its subsidiaries, including AmCoastal, in April 2017, IIC in April 2016, and Family Security Holdings, LLC (FSH), including its subsidiary Family Security Insurance Company, Inc. (FSIC), in February 2015, and our strategic partnership with a subsidiary of Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited (Tokio Marine), which formed Journey Insurance Company (JIC) in August 2018. Effective June 1, 2022, we merged JIC into AmCoastal, with AmCoastal being the surviving entity. Effective May 31, 2022, we merged FSIC into UPC, with UPC being the surviving entity.
As a result of underwriting actions implemented during 2023, as well as the receivership of our former subsidiary UPC by the DFS effective February 27, 2023, our policies in-force decreased by 91.0% from 254,275 policies in-force at December 31, 2022 to 22,848 policies in-force at December 31, 2023. Our 2022 value includes policies attributable to our discontinued operations.
Our business is subject to the impact of weather-related catastrophes on our loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE). Over the last three years, the frequency of these catastrophes has increased. As a result, we have experienced increased catastrophe losses incurred during the prior three years. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, two, two, and four named storms, respectively, made landfall in our geographic footprint, resulting in retained pre-tax catastrophe losses of $729,000, $57,906,000, and $15,696,000, respectively, excluding discontinued operations. In addition, during 2022 and 2021, we increased our loss and LAE reserves as a result of development trends from 2017’s Hurricane Irma, that indicated our ultimate gross loss estimate should be increased.
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of ACIC. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financial strength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
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Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 670,043 | $ | 572,343 | $ | 484,527 | |||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | (34,079) | (36,974) | (18,768) | ||||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 635,964 | 535,369 | 465,759 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (354,080) | (266,023) | (244,630) | ||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 281,884 | 269,346 | 221,129 | ||||||||
| Net investment income | 10,574 | 7,673 | 5,901 | ||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) | (6,808) | (6,483) | 138 | ||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | 814 | (1,968) | 1,471 | ||||||||
| Other revenue | 79 | 1,223 | 46 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 286,543 | 269,791 | 228,685 | ||||||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 62,861 | 134,805 | 89,051 | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 83,346 | 95,318 | 93,199 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 10,240 | 13,729 | 16,258 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 29,489 | 42,281 | 31,420 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 10,875 | 9,483 | 9,303 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 196,811 | 295,616 | 239,231 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before other income | 89,732 | (25,825) | (10,546) | ||||||||
| Other income | 2,239 | 10,343 | 129 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 91,971 | (15,482) | (10,417) | ||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 9,773 | 24,522 | (6,699) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 82,198 | $ | (40,004) | $ | (3,718) | |||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | 227,713 | (429,962) | (56,150) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 309,911 | $ | (469,966) | $ | (59,868) | |||||
| Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | (111) | (1,949) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to ACIC | $ | 309,911 | $ | (469,855) | $ | (57,919) | |||||
| Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | 6.98 | $ | (10.91) | $ | (1.35) | |||||
| Book value per share | $ | 3.61 | $ | (4.21) | $ | 7.20 | |||||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net income (loss) | 439.5 | % | (307.4) | % | (16.9) | % | |||||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 22.3 | % | 50.0 | % | 40.3 | % | |||||
| Expense ratio (2)(5) | 43.7 | % | 56.2 | % | 63.7 | % | |||||
| Combined ratio (3)(5) | 66.0 | % | 106.2 | % | 104.0 | % | |||||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 5.4 | % | 21.5 | % | 7.1 | % | |||||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | (4.4) | % | (4.1) | % | (2.7) | % | |||||
| Underlying combined ratio(4)(5) | 65.0 | % | 88.8 | % | 99.6 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net is calculated as losses and LAE net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and expense ratio. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures”, below.
(5) Included in both the expense ratio and the combined ratio is amortization expense predominately associated with the AmCo and IIC acquisitions, which cause comparative differences among periods.
33
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
We believe that investors’ understanding of ACIC’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors, and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development from net loss and LAE. We use underlying loss and LAE figures to analyze our loss trends that may be impacted by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development on our reserves. As discussed previously, these two items can have a significant impact on our loss trends in a given period. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components both separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss and LAE. The underlying loss and LAE measure should not be considered a substitute for net loss and LAE and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
34
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
Net income attributable to ACIC for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $779,766,000 to $309,911,000, compared to a net loss of $469,855,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net income was primarily driven by a decrease in loss & LAE for the year, as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida in 2022, which caused large losses in 2022. In addition, we had an increase in our gross written premiums, an increase in ceded premiums earned, favorable prior year loss development during the year, decreased policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums increased by $97,700,000, or 17.1%, to $670,043,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $572,343,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by increased written premiums in Florida as we continue to grow our commercial book of business. This was offset by a decrease in written premiums across the personal lines business, driven by the cancellation of the quota share with our former subsidiary, UPC. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by state and gross written premium by line of business are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By State (1) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 635,602 | $ | 503,815 | $ | 131,787 | |||||
| New York | 34,334 | 25,101 | 9,233 | ||||||||
| Texas | (9) | 3,887 | (3,896) | ||||||||
| South Carolina | — | 15 | (15) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by state | $ | 669,927 | $ | 532,818 | $ | 137,109 | |||||
| Assumed premium (2) | 116 | 39,525 | (39,409) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by state | $ | 670,043 | $ | 572,343 | $ | 97,700 | |||||
| Gross Written Premium by Line of Business | |||||||||||
| Commercial property | $ | 635,709 | $ | 508,243 | $ | 127,466 | |||||
| Personal property | 34,334 | 64,100 | (29,766) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by line of business | $ | 670,043 | $ | 572,343 | $ | 97,700 |
(1) We are no longer writing in Texas or South Carolina as of May 31, 2022.
(2) Assumed premium written for 2023 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers. Assumed premium written for 2022 primarily included personal property business assumed by our former subsidiary, UPC.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By State(2) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 20,244 | 33,555 | (13,311) | |||||
| Florida | 4,255 | 5,497 | (1,242) | |||||
| Texas | — | 32 | (32) | |||||
| South Carolina | — | 2 | (2) | |||||
| Total | 24,499 | 39,086 | (14,587) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner, commercial and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
(2) We are no longer writing in Texas or South Carolina as of May 31, 2022.
Ceded premiums earned increased by $88,057,000, or 33.1%, to $354,080,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $266,023,000 for 2022. The increase is primarily driven by a $60,804,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. This increase can be attributed to the increase in AmCoastal’s quota share reinsurance coverage to 40% in the second quarter of 2023 from 10% during the first half of 2023. In addition, we saw increased costs associated with our Core catastrophe reinsurance program during 2023.
Net investment income increased by $2,901,000, or 37.8%, to $10,574,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $7,673,000 for 2022, driven by increased interest income due to increased holdings and higher interest rates year-over-year.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Net realized investment losses and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities increased by $2,457,000, or 29.1%, to a net loss of $5,994,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from a net loss of $8,451,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by the liquidation of our fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position during 2022 to satisfy liquidity needs. The remainder of this change can be attributed to more favorable market conditions in 2023 resulting in decreased unrealized losses on our investment portfolio.
Expenses
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased $98,805,000, or 33.4%, to $196,811,000, from $295,616,000 for 2022. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in 2022, which caused a large increase in 2022. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 62,861 | $ | 134,805 | $ | (71,944) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 9.9 | % | 25.2 | % | (15.3) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 22.3 | % | 50.0 | % | (27.7) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 15,279 | $ | 57,906 | $ | (42,627) | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (12,294) | (10,869) | (1,425) | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 59,876 | $ | 87,768 | $ | (27,892) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 9.4 | % | 16.4 | % | (7.0) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 21.2 | % | 32.6 | % | (11.4) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 83,346 | $ | 95,318 | $ | (11,972) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 10,240 | 13,729 | (3,489) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 29,489 | 42,281 | (12,792) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 123,075 | $ | 151,328 | $ | (28,253) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 19.4 | % | 28.3 | % | (8.9) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 43.7 | % | 56.2 | % | (12.5) | pts |
Loss and LAE decreased by $71,944,000, or 53.4%, to $62,861,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $134,805,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 27.7 points to 22.3% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 50.0% for the year ended December 31, 2022. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, prior year reserve favorable development was higher on both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2023 would have been 9.4%, a decrease of 7.0 points from 16.4% during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Policy acquisition costs decreased by $11,972,000, or 12.6%, to $83,346,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $95,318,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The primary driver of the decrease in expense was an increase in ceding commission of $36,457,000, driven by the changes in the terms of our quota share reinsurance agreements. This was partially offset by increased external management fees and premium taxes of $21,199,000 and $1,949,000, respectively, both of which fluctuated in conjunction with the year-over-year increase in commercial lines gross written premium.
36
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Operating and underwriting expenses decreased by $3,489,000, or 25.4%, to $10,240,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $13,729,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by decreased costs such as printing, postage, rent and utilities totaling $1,384,000 as we look to reduce our overhead spending. In addition, investments in technology decreased $1,834,000 year-over-year.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $12,792,000, or 30.3%, to $29,489,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $42,281,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by the impairment of goodwill attributable to the Company’s personal lines operating segment during 2022 totaling $10,157,000. There were no similar transactions in 2023.
We experienced favorable reserve development in the current year and its historical impact on our net loss and net underlying loss ratios is outlined in the following table.
| Historical Reserve Development | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($ in thousands, except ratios) | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | $ | 2,602 | $ | 6,132 | $ | 10,787 | $ | 12,294 | ||||||||
| Development as a % of earnings before interest and taxes | (51.6) | % | (550.4) | % | (179.8) | % | (12.0) | % | ||||||||
| Consolidated net loss and LAE ratio (LR) | 49.8 | % | 40.3 | % | 50.0 | % | 22.3 | % | ||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development on LR | (1.0) | % | (2.7) | % | (4.1) | % | (4.4) | % | ||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses on LR | 16.8 | % | 7.1 | % | 21.5 | % | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
| Underlying net loss and LAE ratio(1) | 34.0 | % | 35.9 | % | 32.6 | % | 21.3 | % |
(1) Underlying net loss and LAE Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to the Consolidated net loss and LAE Ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax earnings attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $82,287,000 to pretax income of $118,128,000, compared to pretax income of $35,841,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in pretax earnings was primarily due to an increase in revenue driven by increased gross written premium described below. This was partially offset by increased ceded premiums, driven by the changes in our quota share contracts. In addition, all of our expenses related to commercial lines decreased year-over-year, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $127,466,000, or 25.1%, to $635,709,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $508,243,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven entirely by increased written premiums in Florida as we continue to focus on increasing commercial written premiums and transitioning to a specialty commercial lines underwriter. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in assumed premiums as we wind-down these contracts, as well as a decrease in premiums written in Texas and South Carolina, as we are no longer writing business in these states. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by state are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium by State (1) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 635,602 | $ | 503,815 | $ | 131,787 | |||||
| Texas | (9) | 3,887 | (3,896) | ||||||||
| South Carolina | — | 15 | (15) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by state | $ | 635,593 | $ | 507,717 | $ | 127,876 | |||||
| Assumed premium (2) | 116 | 526 | (410) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by state | $ | 635,709 | $ | 508,243 | $ | 127,466 |
(1) We are no longer writing in Texas or South Carolina as of May 31, 2022.
(2) Assumed premium written for 2023 and 2022 is primarily commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
| New and Renewal Policies(1) by State (2) | 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 4,255 | 5,497 | (1,242) | |||||
| Texas | — | 32 | (32) | |||||
| South Carolina | — | 2 | (2) | |||||
| Total | 4,255 | 5,531 | (1,276) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal commercial policies written during the year.
(2) We are no longer writing in Texas or South Carolina as of May 31, 2022.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $97,371,000 or 39.7%, to $342,664,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $245,293,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase is primarily driven by a $60,804,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements, driven by changes to our quota share reinsurance contracts resulting in increased cessions to these contracts during 2023. In addition, costs of our core catastrophe reinsurance program increased year-over-year.
Net investment income attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $1,495,000, or 25.5%, to $7,356,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $5,861,000 for 2022. This increase is driven by a $3,513,000 increase in income from our cash and cash equivalent holdings, as a result of increased holdings and higher interest rates experienced year-over-year.
Net realized investment losses and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $2,500,000, or 29.5%, to a net loss of $5,977,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from a net loss of $8,477,000 for 2022, primarily driven by decreased unrealized losses as a result of favorable market conditions experienced in 2023.
38
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased $46,281,000, or 25.5%, to $135,363,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $181,644,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of decreased catastrophe losses in 2023. In addition, policy acquisition costs decreased $5,560,000 in 2023, as described below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 46,299 | $ | 87,143 | $ | (40,844) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 7.8 | % | 18.8 | % | (11.0) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 18.4 | % | 39.8 | % | (21.4) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 12,783 | $ | 43,385 | $ | (30,602) | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (12,694) | (7,899) | (4,795) | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 46,210 | $ | 51,657 | $ | (5,447) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 7.8 | % | 11.1 | % | (3.3) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 18.3 | % | 23.6 | % | (5.3) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s commercial lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 75,436 | $ | 80,996 | $ | (5,560) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 3,008 | 3,926 | (918) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 10,620 | 9,579 | 1,041 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 89,064 | $ | 94,501 | $ | (5,437) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 15.0 | % | 20.4 | % | (5.4) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 35.3 | % | 43.2 | % | (7.9) | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $40,844,000, or 46.9%, to $46,299,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $87,143,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 21.4 points to 18.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 39.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2023 would have been 7.8%, a decrease of 3.3 points from 11.1% during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Policy acquisition costs decreased by $5,560,000, or 6.9%, to $75,436,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $80,996,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven primarily by an increase in ceding commission of $26,662,000 driven by the changes in the terms of our quota share reinsurance agreements. This was partially offset by increases to management fees and premium taxes of $19,405,000 and $1,706,000, respectively, both of which fluctuated in conjunction with the year-over-year increase in commercial lines gross written premium.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $918,000, or 23.4%, to $3,008,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $3,926,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by decreased operating expenses as we look to reduce our overhead spending.
General and administrative expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $1,041,000, or 10.9%, to $10,620,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $9,579,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was driven by a $1,144,000 increase of allocated external fees related to legal, audit, actuarial and tax services provided during the year.
39
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Personal Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax losses attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased by $38,300,000 to a pretax loss of $13,854,000, compared to a pretax loss of $52,154,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in pretax net loss was primarily due to a $29,766,000 decrease in gross written premiums, as described below, and a $31,100,000 decrease in losses and LAE during 2023, driven by decreased catastrophe losses. We also experienced a $13,303,000 decrease in general and administrative costs year-over-year, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $29,766,000, or 46.4%, to $34,334,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $64,100,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease was driven primarily by a decrease in assumed premiums, driven by the termination of our quota share agreement between our former subsidiary, UPC and IIC effective December 31, 2022. The change in personal lines direct written and assumed premiums and new and renewal policies of the personal lines operating segment year-over-year can be seen below.
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Written Premium | $ | 34,334 | $ | 25,101 | $ | 9,233 | |||||
| Assumed Premiums | — | 38,999 | (38,999) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium | $ | 34,334 | $ | 64,100 | $ | (29,766) | |||||
| New and Renewal Policies (1) | 20,244 | 33,555 | (13,311) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $9,314,000 or 44.9%, to $11,416,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $20,730,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease is primarily driven by a $9,455,000 decrease in ceded premiums earned from our core catastrophe reinsurance program year-over-year.
Net investment income attributable to our personal lines operating segment increased by $1,360,000, or 77.3%, to $3,119,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $1,759,000 for 2022. This increase is driven by higher interest rates experienced during 2023.
40
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased $53,374,000, or 52.0%, to $49,260,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $102,634,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of decreased catastrophe losses during the year. Additionally, we saw a decrease in general and administrative costs and policy acquisition costs, described below. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 16,562 | $ | 47,662 | $ | (31,100) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 40.2 | % | 67.0 | % | (26.8) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 55.5 | % | 94.5 | % | (39.0) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 2,496 | $ | 14,521 | $ | (12,025) | ||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable (favorable) development | 400 | (2,970) | 3,370 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 13,666 | $ | 36,111 | $ | (22,445) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 33.1 | % | 50.7 | % | (17.6) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 45.8 | % | 71.6 | % | (25.8) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s personal lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 7,910 | $ | 14,322 | $ | (6,412) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 6,809 | 9,367 | (2,558) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 17,979 | 31,282 | (13,303) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 32,698 | $ | 54,971 | $ | (22,273) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 79.3 | % | 77.3 | % | 2.0 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 109.6 | % | 109.0 | % | 0.6 | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $31,100,000, or 65.3%, to $16,562,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $47,662,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 39.0 points to 55.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 94.5% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2023 would have been 33.1%, a decrease of 17.6 points from 50.7% during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $6,412,000, or 44.8%, to $7,910,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $14,322,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The primary driver of the decrease in costs was decreased ceding commission of $9,795,000 related primarily to quota share reinsurance agreements no longer in place in 2023. This was partially offset by increased agent commissions, policy administration fees and printing and postage expenses of $1,795,000, $584,000 and $547,000, respectively.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $2,558,000, or 27.3%, to $6,809,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $9,367,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to decreased expenses related to our investment in technology of $1,187,000. In addition, office utilities and rent expenses decreased $433,000 and $396,000, respectively, driven by decreased office space as we look to reduce our overhead spend.
41
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
General and administrative expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $13,303,000, or 42.5%, to $17,979,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $31,282,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by the one-time impairment of goodwill totaling $10,156,000 in 2022. There was no similar impairment during 2023.
42
AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K.
Investments
The primary goals of our investment strategy are to preserve capital, maximize after-tax investment income, maintain liquidity and minimize risk. To accomplish our goals, we purchase debt securities in sectors that represent the most attractive relative value, and we maintain a moderate equity exposure. Limiting equity exposure manages risks and helps to preserve capital for two reasons: first, bond market returns are less volatile than stock market returns, and second, should the bond issuer enter bankruptcy liquidation, bondholders generally have a higher priority than equity holders in a bankruptcy proceeding. Our investment strategy is the same for both our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments.
We must comply with applicable state insurance regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentrations of investments our insurance subsidiaries can make; therefore, our current investment policy limits investment in non-investment-grade fixed maturities and limits total investment amounts in preferred stock, common stock and mortgage notes receivable. We do not invest in derivative securities. Large catastrophe losses such as Hurricane Ian in 2022 can present significant liquidity demands to the Company stemming from higher than normal frequency and severity of insurance claims. This can lead to the selling of securities that we intended to hold until maturity and realizing untimely gains or losses.
Two outside asset management companies, which have authority and discretion to buy and sell securities for us, manage our investments subject to (i) the guidelines established by our Board of Directors and (ii) the direction of management. The Investment Committee of our Board of Directors reviews and approves our investment policy on a regular basis.
Our cash and investment portfolios totaled $369,022,000 at December 31, 2023 compared to $340,905,000 at December 31, 2022.
The following table summarizes our investments, by type:
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | ||||||||||
| U.S. government and agency securities | $ | 27,432 | 7.4 | % | $ | 2,385 | 0.7 | % | |||||
| Foreign governments | — | — | % | 991 | 0.3 | % | |||||||
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 23,865 | 6.5 | % | 26,895 | 7.9 | % | |||||||
| Public utilities | 5,134 | 1.4 | % | 7,694 | 2.3 | % | |||||||
| Corporate securities | 61,849 | 16.7 | % | 83,343 | 24.4 | % | |||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | 46,310 | 12.5 | % | 56,115 | 16.5 | % | |||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 16,113 | 4.4 | % | 27,259 | 8.0 | % | |||||||
| Total fixed maturities | 180,703 | 48.9 | % | 204,682 | 60.1 | % | |||||||
| Mutual fund | — | — | % | 15,657 | 4.6 | % | |||||||
| Total equity securities | — | — | % | 15,657 | 4.6 | % | |||||||
| Other investments | 16,487 | 4.5 | % | 3,675 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
| Total investments | 197,190 | 53.4 | % | 224,014 | 65.8 | % | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 153,762 | 41.7 | % | 70,903 | 20.7 | % | |||||||
| Restricted cash | 18,070 | 4.9 | % | 45,988 | 13.5 | % | |||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments | $ | 369,022 | 100.0 | % | $ | 340,905 | 100.0 | % |
We classify all of our investments as available-for-sale. Our investments at December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted mainly of U.S. government and agency securities, states, municipalities and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and securities of investment-grade corporate issuers. Our equity holdings in 2022 consisted mainly of securities issued by companies in the financial, utilities and industrial sectors or mutual funds. We held no equities as of December 31, 2023. Most of the corporate bonds we hold reflected a similar diversification. At December 31, 2023, approximately 83.2% of our fixed maturities were U.S. Treasuries, or corporate bonds rated “A” or better, and 16.8% were corporate bonds rated “BBB” or “BB”.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
During the year ended December 31, 2022, as a result of UPC’s plan of run-off, management determined that it was more likely than not that we would be required to sell a portion or all of our fixed-income securities attributable to the entity before recovery of their amortized cost basis. These securities were evaluated and none of the unrealized loss position was the result of a credit loss. As a result, we realized impairment losses of $22,718,000 on these securities. Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) was not impacted by such charge; however, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 worsened and other comprehensive income improved by $22,718,000, before tax impacts, in offsetting amounts. The impact on our net loss is captured within our discontinued operations.
Reinsurance
We follow industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or “ceding”, all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain primarily liable for the entire insured loss under the policies we write.
Our catastrophe reinsurance programs are designed primarily by utilizing third-party catastrophe modeling software and consulting with third-party reinsurance experts to project our exposure to catastrophe events. We evaluate modeled expected losses developed by the catastrophe modeling software using our risk portfolio data to estimate probable maximum losses (PML) across multiple return periods and the average annual loss. The Company monitors and manages its catastrophe risk using this model output along with other internal and external data sources, such as our historical loss experience and industry loss experience, to develop our view of catastrophe risk.
Our catastrophe reinsurance coverages consists of three separate placements:
1.AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program in effect June 1 through May 31, annually, which includes excess of loss and quota share treaties providing coverage for catastrophe losses from named or numbered windstorms and earthquakes;
2.AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement in effect January 1, through December 31, annually, which provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes; and
3.IIC’s core catastrophe reinsurance program in effect June 1, through May 31, annually, which provides protection from all catastrophe losses.
This reinsurance protection is an essential part of our catastrophe risk management strategy. It is intended to provide our stockholders an acceptable return on the risks assumed by our insurance entities, and to reduce variability of earnings, while providing surplus protection. Although reinsurance agreements contractually obligate our reinsurers to reimburse us for the agreed-upon portion of our gross paid losses, they do not discharge our primary liability. In the event one or more of our reinsurers fail to fulfill their obligation, the surplus of our statutory entities may decline, and we may not be able to fulfill our obligation to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. Additionally, we face the risk that actual losses incurred from one or more catastrophic events may be above the modeled expected loss resulting in losses exceeding our reinsurance coverage, which may result in a decline in surplus, and as a result we may not be able to fulfill our obligations to policyholders, or we may not be able to maintain compliance with various regulatory financial requirements. The details of our programs and likelihood of a catastrophic event exceeding these three coverages are outlined below.
AmCoastal’s core catastrophe reinsurance program provides occurrence-based coverage up to an exhaustion point of approximately $1,100,000,000 for a first occurrence and $1,300,000,000 in the aggregate. Under this program, our retention on a first and second event is $10,000,000 each, plus $2,250,000 retained separately by our captive. AmCoastal’s program provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-150-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is roughly 0.7% estimated by equally blending the AIR and RMS catastrophe models using long-term catalogs including demand surge. AmCoastal’s program also provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-100-year event followed by a 1-in-50-year event in the same treaty year, the probability of which is less than 0.1%. While we believe these catastrophe models are very good tools and their output provides reasonable proxies for the probability of exhausting our reinsurance protections, they are imperfect so actual results could vary dramatically from those expected.
AmCoastal’s all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes up to $101,000,000. This agreement provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-250-year return period, indicating that the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is no more than 0.4%.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
IIC’s core catastrophe reinsurance program provides coverage up to an exhaustion point of approximately $82,000,000 in the aggregate, with a retention of $3,000,000 per occurrence. Based on IIC’s PML, the program provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-130 year return period, indicating the probability of a single occurrence exceeding protection purchased is no more than 0.8%. IIC’s program also provides sufficient coverage for a 1-in-100-year event followed by a 1-in-50-year event in the same treaty year, the probability of which is less than 0.1%.
Effective December 15, 2023, we agreed to commute a private reinsurer’s share of core catastrophe reinsurance coverage and replace this gap in coverage with new coverage provided by one of our other private reinsurers. This transaction resulted in additional expense of approximately $6,300,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, but will result in decreased expense totaling $14,300,000 during the first half of 2024, resulting in a net economic benefit of approximately $8,000,000 net of replacement coverage for the period December 15, 2023 through May 31, 2024.
During the third quarter of 2022, the Company's core catastrophe reinsurance program was impacted by Hurricane Ian. As a result, the Company has approximately $508 million of occurrence limit remaining for Hurricane Ian, all of which is attributable to AmCoastal only. After reinstatement premiums of approximately $15.4 million, the Company, with its former subsidiary UPC, has approximately $980 million of aggregate limit remaining for events subsequent to Hurricane Ian, based on our estimated ultimate net loss subject to the core catastrophe reinsurance program.
During the third quarter of 2022, one of our private reinsurers who held a 100% share of the $15,000,000 in excess of $15,000,000 layer on our all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement notified us of their intent to terminate the agreement due to the contractual provision regarding the change in UPC's statutory surplus being greater than 25%. We agreed to a termination and commutation date of September 30, 2022 for this contract. This change resulted in approximately $1,300,000 of ceded premium savings that would have otherwise been due in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the Company retaining all the risk for any non-hurricane catastrophe losses up to $30,000,000, excluding any quota share recoveries.
The table below outlines our quota share agreements in effect for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The impacts of these quota share agreements on our former subsidiary, UPC's financial statements are included in discontinued operations.
| Reinsurer | Companies in Scope (1) | Effective Dates | Cession Rate | States in Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External third-party | AmCoastal | 06/01/2023 - 06/01/2024 | 40% (2) | Florida |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & AmCoastal | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 10% (2) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| TypTap | UPC | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 100% (3) | Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & AmCoastal | 12/31/2021 - 12/31/2022 | 8% (2) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| HCPCI | UPC | 12/31/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 85% | Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| External third-party | UPC & FSIC | 12/31/2021 - 12/31/2022 | 25% (4) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| HCPCI / TypTap (5) | UPC | 06/01/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 100% (3) | Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & AmCoastal (6) | 06/01/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 15% (2) | Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas |
| IIC | UPC | 12/31/2020 - 12/31/2022 | 100% | New York |
(1) Effective May 31, 2022, FSIC was merged into UPC, with UPC being the surviving entity.
(2) This treaty provides coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides ground- up protection effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(3) This treaty provides coverage on our in-force, new and renewal policies until these states are transitioned to HCPCI or TypTap upon renewal.
(4) This treaty provides coverage on non-catastrophe losses on policies in-force on the effective date of the agreement.
(5) Cessions are split 50% to HCPCI and 50% to TypTap.
(6) This treaty was amended effective December 31, 2020 to include AmCoastal.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-at-Risk | (0.4) | % | (0.6) | % | ||
| Quota Share | (20.7) | (13.2) | ||||
| All Other | (34.7) | (35.9) | ||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (55.8) | % | (49.7) | % |
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| Personal | Commercial | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Non-at-Risk | (2.2) | % | (1.1) | % | (0.3) | % | (0.5) | % | ||||
| Quota Share | — | — | (22.1) | (15.3) | ||||||||
| All Other | (25.6) | (28.0) | (35.2) | (37.2) | ||||||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (27.8) | % | (29.1) | % | (57.6) | % | (53.0) | % |
Please note that the sum of the percentages above will not reconcile to the consolidated percentages as they are calculated using each operating segments’ gross earned premium rather than our consolidated gross earned premium.
We amortize our ceded unearned premiums over the annual agreement period, and we record that amortization in ceded premiums earned on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The table below summarizes the amounts of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (201,315) | $ | (53,010) | $ | (75,277) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (219,313) | (188,113) | (181,595) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (2,103) | (3,067) | (1,499) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (422,731) | $ | (244,190) | $ | (258,371) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 68,651 | (21,833) | 13,741 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (354,080) | $ | (266,023) | $ | (244,630) |
The breakdown of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the tables below. These values can be reconciled to the table above.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Personal Lines Operating Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (8,297) | (20,006) | (9,886) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (931) | (798) | (748) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (9,228) | $ | (20,804) | $ | (10,634) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (2,188) | 74 | 3,060 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (11,416) | $ | (20,730) | $ | (7,574) |
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | (201,315) | (53,010) | (75,277) | |||||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (211,016) | (168,107) | (171,709) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (1,172) | (2,269) | (751) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (413,503) | $ | (223,386) | $ | (247,737) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 70,839 | (21,907) | 10,681 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (342,664) | $ | (245,293) | $ | (237,056) |
Current year catastrophe losses disaggregated between named and numbered storms and all other catastrophe loss events are shown in the following table.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 729 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 20 | 14,550 | 5.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 22 | $ | 15,279 | 5.4 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 52,076 | 19.3 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 11 | 5,830 | 2.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 13 | $ | 57,906 | 21.5 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 4,142 | 1.9 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 10 | 11,554 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 14 | $ | 15,696 | 7.1 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
The impact of the current year catastrophes to our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the tables below. Please note that the catastrophe events may have impacted both operating segments. As a result, the sum of the number of events in the tables below will not reconcile to the consolidated number of events above. In addition, the combined ratio impact is calculated and sum of the ratios in the tables below will not reconcile to the ratios above.
Personal Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 129 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 13 | 2,367 | 8.0 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 14 | $ | 2,496 | 8.4 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 8,903 | 17.7 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 11 | 5,618 | 11.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 12 | $ | 14,521 | 28.8 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 3 | $ | 3,984 | 8.3 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 2,182 | 4.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 10 | $ | 6,166 | 12.9 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 600 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 10 | 12,183 | 4.9 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | $ | 12,783 | 5.1 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 43,173 | 19.7 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 212 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 9 | $ | 43,385 | 19.8 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 158 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 10 | 9,372 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 14 | $ | 9,530 | 5.5 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
See Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our reinsurance program.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustments
We generally use the term “loss(es)” to collectively refer to both loss and LAE. We establish reserves for both reported and unreported unpaid losses that have occurred at or before the balance sheet date for amounts we estimate we will be required to pay in the future, including provisions for claims that have been reported but are unpaid at the balance sheet date and for obligations on claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date. Our policy is to establish these loss reserves after considering all information known to us at each reporting period. At any given point in time, our loss reserve represents our best estimate of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of our insured claims incurred and unpaid.
Unpaid losses and LAE totaled $370,221,000 and $842,958,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Of this total, $347,738,000 and $816,489,000 is related to our commercial lines operating segment, respectively. The remaining $22,483,000 and $26,469,000 is related to our personal lines operating segment, respectively. On a consolidated basis, this balance has decreased from year end as we continue to settle claims related to Hurricane Ian which made landfall in the third quarter of 2022.
Since the process of estimating loss reserves requires significant judgment due to a number of variables, such as fluctuations in inflation, judicial decisions, legislative changes and changes in claims handling procedures, our ultimate liability will likely differ from these estimates. We revise our reserve for unpaid losses as additional information becomes available, and reflect adjustments, if any, in our earnings in the periods in which we determine the adjustments as necessary.
See Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our losses and LAE.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Discontinued Operations
On February 10, 2023, we announced that a solvent run-off for UPC was unlikely and on February 27, 2023, UPC was placed into receivership with the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) which divested our ownership of UPC. As a result, UPC, as well as the activities related directly to supporting the business conducted by UPC, qualifies as a discontinued operation. We have recast our Consolidated Financial Statements to exclude the results of our discontinued operations, in conformity with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). For more information regarding the results of our discontinued operations, see Note 3 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generate cash through premium collections, reinsurance recoveries, investment income, the sale or maturity of invested assets, the issuance of debt and the issuance of additional shares of our stock. We use our cash to pay reinsurance premiums, claims and related costs, policy acquisition costs, salaries and employee benefits, other expenses and stockholder dividends, acquire subsidiaries and pay associated costs, as well as to repay debts and purchase investments.
As a holding company, we do not conduct any business operations of our own and, as a result, we rely on cash dividends or intercompany loans from our management subsidiaries to pay our general and administrative expenses. Insurance regulatory authorities heavily regulate our insurance subsidiaries, including restricting any dividends paid by our insurance subsidiaries and requiring approval of any management fees our insurance subsidiaries pay to our management subsidiaries for services rendered; however, nothing restricts our non-insurance company subsidiaries from paying us dividends other than state corporate laws regarding solvency. Our management subsidiaries pay us dividends primarily using cash from the collection of management fees from our insurance subsidiaries, pursuant to the management agreements in effect between those entities. In accordance with state laws, our insurance subsidiaries may pay dividends or make distributions out of that part of their statutory surplus derived from their net operating profit and their net realized capital gains. The RBC guidelines published by the NAIC may further restrict our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions if the amount of the intended dividend or distribution would cause their respective surplus as it regards policyholders to fall below minimum RBC guidelines. See Note 16 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Part II, Item 5 for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we made no capital contributions to our subsidiaries. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we contributed $81,000,000 and $11,200,000 to our former insurance subsidiaries, UPC and FSIC, respectively. The contribution made to FSIC was made prior to the merging of FSIC into UPC. In addition, we contributed $9,574,000 to our reinsurance subsidiary, UPC Re. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we contributed $17,000,000, $8,000,000 and $17,500,000 to our former insurance subsidiaries, UPC, FSIC, and ACIC, respectively.
During 2022, we received a dividend of $26,000,000 from ACIC. During February 2021, we received a dividend of $3,500,000 from IIC.
In September 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Agreement”) with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., as agent (the “Agent”), relating to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, through the Agent, of up to 8,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”). Sales of the Shares under the Agreement will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings”. The Agent is not required to sell any specific amount of Shares but agreed to act as the Company’s sales agent for a commission equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales of the Shares. As of December 31, 2023, 3,373,000 shares had been sold under the Agreement resulting in commissions paid of approximately $829,000 and net proceeds of approximately $26,792,000 and as of the date of this filing, approximately 4,373,000 shares have been sold under the agreement resulting in commissions paid of approximately $1,181,000 and net proceeds of approximately $38,190,000. The Agreement will terminate upon the issuance and sale of all Shares subject to the Agreement, or the Agreement may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The Company does not plan to sell additional shares under the at-the-market program during the first half of 2024.
On December 13, 2017, we issued $150,000,000 of senior notes (Senior Notes) that will mature on December 15, 2027 and bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum payable semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2018. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. We may redeem the Senior Notes at our option, at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon from the date of redemption to the date that is three months prior to maturity. On and after that date, we may redeem the Senior Notes at par. On December 8, 2022, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC announced a downgrade of our issuer and debt ratings BBB- to BB+. As a result, pursuant to our agreement, the interest rate of our Senior notes increased from 6.25% to 7.25% effective on June 15, 2023.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
As a result of claim activity from the current and prior years, we have an obligation related to the unpaid policyholder losses and unpaid loss adjustment expenses associated with the settling of these claims. As of December 31, 2023, our total obligation related to these claim payments was $370,221,000, of which we estimate $132,176,000 to be short-term in nature (due in less than twelve months), based upon our cumulative claims paid over the last 22 years. While we believe that historical performance of loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in this estimated projected settlement, and as a result these estimates will differ, perhaps significantly, from actual future payments.
In addition to our unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, as of December 31, 2023 we have outstanding debt obligations related to our notes payable totaling $150,000,000. This is exclusive of interest costs, which we estimate will total $43,500,000 over the life of the debt, based on the current fixed interest rates of these notes. Our short-term obligation related to these notes payable total $10,875,000 in estimated interest payments and no principal payments. For more information regarding these outstanding notes, please see Note 12.
In connection with entering into contracts with our outside vendors, we have minimum obligations due to our vendors over the life of the contracts. Our main vendor obligations are related to underwriting tools, claims and policy administration systems. Our total obligation related to these two categories of obligations are $1,394,000, and $591,000, respectively. Of these obligations, $697,000, and $285,000, respectively are short-term in nature.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows from our operating activities come from premium collections, reinsurance recoveries and investment income. The principal cash outflows from our operating activities are the result of claims and related costs, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition costs and salaries and employee benefits. A primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is the risk of large magnitude catastrophe events.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we experienced cash outflows of $136,003,000 compared to outflows of $173,113,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022. This change in outflows was driven by an increase in net income of $485,333,000, net of adjustments to reconcile net income to cash. This was partially offset by a decrease in changes to our balance sheet operating assets and liabilities of $448,223,000. The change in net income can be attributed to a large net loss experienced by our former subsidiary, UPC, during 2022, as a result of Hurricane Ian exhausting our reinsurance coverage. The change in our operating assets and liabilities can be attributed to the placement of UPC into receivership in 2023 as a result of the loss above, divesting our ownership of UPC during 2023.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Investing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our investing activities come from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of investments. We closely monitor and manage these risks through our comprehensive investment risk management process. The principal cash outflows relate to purchases of investments. Additional cash outflows relate to the purchase of fixed assets. The primary liquidity concerns with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors and market disruption. During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by investing activities decreased $239,379,000, driven by the divestiture of UPC which resulted in $232,582,000 in cash being removed.
Financing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our financing activities come from issuances of debt and other securities. The principal cash outflows come from repayments of debt and payments of dividends. The primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is market disruption in the cost and availability of credit. We believe our current capital resources, together with cash provided from our operations, are sufficient to meet currently anticipated working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by financing activities increased by $52,159,000 due primarily to proceeds from the issuance of our common stock in 2023. This increase was partially offset by the return of capital related to our former noncontrolling interest of $18,335,000 during 2022 and a decrease in dividend payments of $2,589,000 since no dividends were declared in 2023.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Please refer to Note 2(u) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards that may affect us.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:
•reserves for unpaid losses,
•fair value of investments,
•investment portfolio credit allowances, and
•goodwill.
In making these determinations, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance industry. It is reasonably likely that changes in these estimates could occur from time to time and result in a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prescribes when we may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, our results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish a reserve for a major contingency. Therefore, the results we report in certain accounting periods may appear to be volatile and past results may not be indicative of results in future periods.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and LAE
Reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the most significant accounting estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements. These reserves represent management’s best estimate of the amount we will ultimately pay for losses and we base the amount upon the application of various actuarial reserve estimation techniques as well as considering other material facts and circumstances known at the balance sheet date.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
As discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we determine our ultimate losses by using multiple actuarial methods to determine an actuarial estimate within a relevant range of indications that we calculate using generally accepted actuarial techniques. Our selection of the actuarial estimate is influenced by the analysis of our historical loss and claims experience since inception. For each accident year, we estimate the ultimate incurred losses for both reported and unreported claims. In establishing this estimate, we reviewed the results of various actuarial methods discussed in Note 11 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value of Investments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We are responsible for the determination of fair value of financial assets and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We use quoted prices from active markets and we use an independent third-party valuation service to assist us in determining fair value. We obtain only one single quote or price for each financial instrument.
As discussed in Note 5 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we value our investments at fair value using quoted prices from active markets, to the extent available. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. We also have investments in limited partnerships that require us to use the net asset value per share method of valuation to determine fair value.
See “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for more information regarding the sensitivity of our fixed maturity portfolio to changes in interest rates.
Investment Portfolio Credit Allowances
For investments classified as available for sale, the difference between fair value and cost or amortized cost for fixed income securities is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and is not reflected in our net loss of any period until reclassified to net loss upon the consummation of a transaction with an unrelated third party. We have a portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be impaired as the result of a credit loss.
For each fixed-income security in an unrealized loss position, if we determine that we intend to sell the security or that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the cost or amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity needs, contractual or regulatory requirements, the security's entire decline in fair value is recorded in earnings.
If our management decides not to sell the fixed-income security and it is more likely than not that we will not be required
to sell the fixed-income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has
resulted from credit losses or other factors. This is typically indicated by a change in the rating of the security assigned by a
rating agency, and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security or industry, among other factors. If the assessment
indicates that a credit loss may exist, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to
the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized
cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses will be recorded in earnings. Credit loss is limited to the
difference between a security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. Any additional impairment not recorded through an
allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive loss.
If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings. The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive loss. If we determine that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, we may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.
Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 (ASU 2016-01) as of January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, including impairment write-downs, being recognized in the revenue section of our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
See Note 2(b) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our credit loss testing.
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AMERICAN COASTAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment
Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested
for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate,
indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. We test goodwill for impairment by performing a
quantitative assessment. Goodwill is impaired when it is determined that the carrying value of a reporting segment is in excess of the fair value of that reporting segment. The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments.
Please refer to Note 2(k) and Note 9 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001401521-23-000023.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for 2022 as compared to 2021. Discussion regarding our results of operations and financial condition for 2021 as compared to 2020 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
OVERVIEW
United Insurance Holding Corp. is a holding company primarily engaged in residential personal and commercial property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. During the periods presented, we conducted our business principally through three wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries: United Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPC); American Coastal Insurance Company (ACIC); and Interboro Insurance Company (IIC). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “UPC Insurance,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company. With UPC in receivership effective February 27, 2023 and IIC available for sale, the Company will be moving away from the “UPC Insurance” name and re-branding in support of American Coastal’s commercial operations during 2023.
Our Company’s primary source of revenue is generated from writing insurance in Florida and New York. Effective December 1, 2022, we no longer write in the state of North Carolina. Effective October 1, 2022, we no longer write in the state of Georgia. Effective June 1, 2022, we no longer write in the state of South Carolina. Effective April 1, 2022, we no longer write in the state of Massachusetts, and effective January 15, 2022, we no longer write in the state of New Jersey. Effective January 1, 2021, we no longer write in the state of Hawaii. Effective December 1, 2021, we no longer write in the states of Connecticut or Rhode Island. We are also licensed to write property and casualty insurance in an additional six states; however, we have not commenced writing or no longer write in these states. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for UPC Insurance to write profitable business in such areas.
On August 25, 2022, we announced that UPC had filed plans for withdrawal in the states of Florida, Louisiana, and Texas and intended to file a plan for withdrawal in the state of New York. All filed plans entail non-renewing personal lines policies in these states. Additionally, we announced that Demotech, Inc. (Demotech), an insurance rating agency, notified UPC of its intent to withdraw UPC's Financial Stability Rating On December 5, 2022, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation ("FLOIR") issued Consent Order No. 303643-22- CO that provides for the administrative supervision and approval of the plan of run-off for UPC (the "Consent Order"). The Consent Order provides formal approval of UPC's Plan of Run-Off (the "Plan") to facilitate a solvent wind down of its affairs in an orderly fashion. Additionally, in connection with the Plan, IIC has agreed to not pay ordinary dividends without the prior approval of the New York Department of Financial Services until January 1, 2025. On February 10, 2023, we announced that a solvent run-off for UPC was unlikely and on February 27, 2023, UPC was placed into receivership with the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) which divested our ownership of UPC.
Our Company, together with wholly-owned subsidiaries UPC and United Insurance Management, L.C. (UIM), entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement (Southeast Renewal Agreement), dated as of December 30, 2021 with HCPCI, pursuant to which our Company, UPC and UIM agreed to sell, and HCPCI agreed to purchase, the renewal rights to UPC’s personal lines homeowners business in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The transfer of policies is subject to regulatory approval. Effective June 1, 2022, we began the transition of South Carolina policies to HCPCI and effective October 1, 2022, we transitioned Georgia Policies in connection with our renewal rights agreement. The sale was consummated on December 30, 2021.
Effective June 1, 2022, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with TypTap Insurance Company (Typtap). Under the terms of this agreement, we cede 100% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. This agreement replaces the 85% quota share agreement with Homeowners Choice Property and Casualty, Inc. (HCPCI) effective December 31, 2021. Also effective June 1, 2022, our third-party quota share reinsurance agreements were renewed to exclude these states. We will no longer retain any risk associated with these states.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Our Company, together with wholly-owned subsidiaries UPC and UIM, entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement (Northeast Renewal Agreement), dated as of January 18, 2021 with HCPCI and HCI Group, Inc. (HCI), pursuant to which our Company, UPC and UIM agreed to sell, and HCPCI agreed to purchase, the renewal rights to UPC’s personal lines homeowners business in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The transfer of all states was completed as
of June 30, 2022.
Effective June 1, 2021, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI and TypTap Insurance Company (TypTap) in connection with the Northeast Renewal Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, we cede 100% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The cession of these policies is 50% to HCPCI and 50% to TypTap.
We have historically grown our business through organic growth complemented by strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisitions of AmCo Holding Company (AmCo) and its subsidiaries, including ACIC, in April 2017, IIC in April 2016, and Family Security Holdings, LLC (FSH), including its subsidiary FSIC in February 2015, and our strategic partnership with a subsidiary of Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited (Kiln), which formed JIC in August 2018. Effective June 1, 2022, we merged JIC into ACIC, with ACIC being the surviving entity. Effective May 31, 2022, we merged FSIC into UPC, with UPC being the surviving entity.
As a result of underwriting actions implemented during 2022, as well as the transfer of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia policies to HCPCI, our policies in-force decreased by 46.1% from 471,724 policies in-force at December 31, 2021 to 254,275 policies in-force at December 31, 2022.
Our business is subject to the impact of weather-related catastrophes on our loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE). Over the last three years, the frequency of these catastrophes has increased. As a result, we have experienced increased catastrophe losses incurred during the prior three years. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, two, seven, and thirteen named storms, respectively, made landfall in our geographic footprint, resulting in retained pre-tax catastrophe losses of $203,896,000, $35,872,000, and $208,157,000, respectively. In addition, during each of the three years we increased our loss and LAE reserves as a result of development trends from 2017’s Hurricane Irma, that indicated our ultimate gross loss estimate should be increased.
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of UPC Insurance. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financial strength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
35
UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Consolidated Net Loss
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 1,124,063 | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | 1,456,863 | |||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | 99,120 | 78,998 | (49,883) | ||||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 1,223,183 | 1,408,443 | 1,406,980 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (760,557) | (818,682) | (641,317) | ||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 462,626 | 589,761 | 765,663 | ||||||||
| Net investment income | 14,011 | 13,772 | 24,125 | ||||||||
| Net realized gains (losses) | (32,082) | 3,567 | 66,691 | ||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | (6,585) | 3,237 | (27,562) | ||||||||
| Other revenue | 17,452 | 24,190 | 17,739 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 455,422 | 634,527 | 846,656 | ||||||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 637,647 | 422,134 | 608,316 | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 156,089 | 173,574 | 236,002 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 43,632 | 56,257 | 52,876 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 63,317 | 57,212 | 72,057 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 9,613 | 9,391 | 9,582 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 910,298 | 718,568 | 978,833 | ||||||||
| Loss before other income | (454,876) | (84,041) | (132,177) | ||||||||
| Other income | 10,395 | 184 | 74 | ||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (444,481) | (83,857) | (132,103) | ||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 25,485 | (23,989) | (36,605) | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (469,966) | $ | (59,868) | $ | (95,498) | |||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (111) | (1,949) | 956 | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to UIHC | $ | (469,855) | $ | (57,919) | $ | (96,454) | |||||
| Net loss per diluted share | $ | (10.91) | $ | (1.35) | $ | (2.25) | |||||
| Book value per share | $ | (4.21) | $ | 7.20 | $ | 9.19 | |||||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net loss | (307.4) | % | (16.9) | % | (20.2) | % | |||||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 137.8 | % | 71.6 | % | 79.4 | % | |||||
| Expense ratio (2)(5) | 56.9 | % | 48.7 | % | 47.1 | % | |||||
| Combined ratio (3)(5) | 194.7 | % | 120.3 | % | 126.5 | % | |||||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 61.2 | % | 19.3 | % | 38.5 | % | |||||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | 24.3 | % | 4.7 | % | (0.9) | % | |||||
| Underlying combined ratio(4)(5) | 109.2 | % | 96.3 | % | 88.9 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net is calculated as losses and LAE net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and expense ratio. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures”, below.
(5) Included in both the expense ratio and the combined ratio is amortization expense predominately associated with the AmCo, IIC, and FSH acquisitions, which cause comparative differences among periods.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
We believe that investors’ understanding of UPC Insurance’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors, and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development from net loss and LAE. We use underlying loss and LAE figures to analyze our loss trends that may be impacted by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development on our reserves. As discussed previously, these two items can have a significant impact on our loss trends in a given period. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components both separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss and LAE. The underlying loss and LAE measure should not be considered a substitute for net loss and LAE and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
Net loss attributable to UIHC for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $411,936,000 to $469,855,000, compared to $57,919,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in net losses was primarily driven by an increase in loss & LAE expense for the year, as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane and exhausting our personal lines reinsurance coverage for the event. In addition, our provision for income taxes increased from the recognition of a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset in 2022. Total revenues also decreased, driven by decreased gross written premiums and realized losses on investments, as described below. These factors were partially offset by lower policy acquisition costs and decreased ceded premium earned, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums decreased by $205,382,000, or 15.4%, to $1,124,063,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $1,329,445,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, driven by the transition of the Northeast business to HCPCI in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first half of 2022, and the transition of the Southeast business to HCPCI in the second half of 2022. In addition, we experienced a decline in written premiums across the personal lines business, due to underwriting actions taken throughout 2021 and 2022. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by region and gross written premium by line of business are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By Region (1) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 885,202 | $ | 852,711 | $ | 32,491 | |||||
| Gulf | 162,786 | 225,013 | (62,227) | ||||||||
| Southeast | 42,780 | 93,188 | (50,408) | ||||||||
| Northeast | 32,769 | 158,217 | (125,448) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by region | $ | 1,123,537 | $ | 1,329,129 | $ | (205,592) | |||||
| Assumed premium (2) | 526 | 316 | 210 | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 1,124,063 | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | (205,382) | |||||
| Gross Written Premium by Line of Business | |||||||||||
| Personal property (3) | $ | 615,819 | $ | 907,207 | $ | (291,388) | |||||
| Commercial property (4) | 508,244 | 422,238 | 86,006 | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by line of business | $ | 1,124,063 | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | (205,382) |
(1) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas; "Northeast" is comprised of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York in 2022 and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island in 2021; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We are no longer writing in New Jersey as of January 15, 2022, Massachusetts as of April 1, 2022, South Carolina as of June 1, 2022, Georgia as of October 1, 2022 and North Carolina as of December 1, 2022 as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
(2) Assumed premium written for 2022 and 2021 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
(3) Includes gross written premium from flood policies.
(4) Commercial written premium for 2022 and 2021 was primarily written in Florida.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By Region(2) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 141,953 | 212,497 | (70,544) | |||||
| Gulf | 67,546 | 113,983 | (46,437) | |||||
| Northeast | 33,596 | 122,723 | (89,127) | |||||
| Southeast | 24,600 | 60,406 | (35,806) | |||||
| Total | 267,695 | 509,609 | (241,914) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner, commercial and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
(2) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas; "Northeast" is comprised of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York in 2022 and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island in 2021; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We are no longer writing in New Jersey as of January 15, 2022, Massachusetts as of April 1, 2022, South Carolina as of June 1, 2022, Georgia as of October 1, 2022 and North Carolina as of December 1, 2022 as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Ceded premiums earned decreased by $58,125,000, or 7.1%, to $760,557,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $818,682,000 for 2021. The decrease is primarily driven by a $57,134,000 decrease in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. This decrease can be attributed to the transition of our Northeast and Southeast business to HCPCI, resulting in lower cessions to the associated quota share contracts in 2022. In addition, our cessions to our external contracts decreased in 2022 as the result of the decrease in personal lines gross written premium described above.
Net investment income remained relatively flat in 2022, decreasing by $239,000, or 1.7%, to $14,011,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $13,772,000 for 2021.
Net realized investment gains (losses) and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities decreased by $45,471,000, or 668.3%, to a net loss of $38,667,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from a net gain of $6,804,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, driven by $22,718,000 of impairment losses realized on the fixed maturity portfolio attributable to our personal lines operating segment. The remainder of this change can be attributed to rising interest rates and unfavorable market conditions in 2022 resulting in unrealized losses on our investment portfolio.
Expenses
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased $191,730,000, or 26.7%, to $910,298,000, from $718,568,000 for 2021. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane and exhausting our personal lines reinsurance coverage for the event. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 637,647 | $ | 422,134 | $ | 215,513 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 52.1 | % | 30.0 | % | 22.1 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 137.8 | % | 71.6 | % | 66.2 | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 283,190 | $ | 113,740 | $ | 169,450 | ||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable development | 112,636 | 27,856 | 84,780 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 241,821 | $ | 280,538 | $ | (38,717) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 19.8 | % | 19.9 | % | (0.1) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 52.3 | % | 47.6 | % | 4.7 | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 156,089 | $ | 173,574 | $ | (17,485) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 43,632 | 56,257 | (12,625) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 63,317 | 57,212 | 6,105 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 263,038 | $ | 287,043 | $ | (24,005) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 21.5 | % | 20.4 | % | 1.1 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 56.9 | % | 48.7 | % | 8.2 | pts |
Loss and LAE increased by $215,513,000, or 51.1%, to $637,647,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $422,134,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 66.2 points to 137.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 71.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we experienced increased catastrophe losses as a result of the severity of Hurricane Ian in 2022. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2022 prior year reserve unfavorable development was higher on
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2022 would have been 19.8%, a decrease of 0.1 points from 19.9% during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Policy acquisition costs decreased by $17,485,000, or 10.1%, to $156,089,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $173,574,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The primary driver of the decrease in expense was a decrease in agent commissions, premium taxes and policy administration fees of $24,871,000, $4,958,000 and $4,077,000, respectively, all of which fluctuated in conjunction with the year-over-year decrease in personal lines gross written premium. This was partially offset by a $8,071,000 increase in external management fees incurred as a result of an increased volume of commercial written premium year-over-year. In addition, ceding commission income decreased $9,783,000 due to changes in the terms of our quota share reinsurance agreements.
Operating and underwriting expenses decreased by $12,625,000, or 22.4%, to $43,632,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $56,257,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to decreased expenses related to our investment in technology of $10,606,000. In addition, underwriting expenses decreased $2,888,000, driven by the decrease in personal lines premiums described above.
General and administrative expenses increased by $6,105,000, or 10.7%, to $63,317,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $57,212,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the impairment of goodwill attributable to our personal lines operating segment totaling $13,569,000. This was partially offset by a decrease in salary related expenses of $8,547,000 attributable to a reduction in payroll taxes attributable to an employee retention tax credit refund for taxes previously paid and recognized as an expense by the company, as well as a reduction in headcount in 2022.
We experienced adverse reserve development in the current year and its historical impact on our net loss and net underlying loss ratios is outlined in the following table.
| Historical Reserve Development | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($ in thousands, except ratios) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable (unfavorable) development | $ | (4,318) | $ | (33,134) | $ | 6,786 | $ | (27,856) | $ | (112,636) | ||||||||
| Development as a % of earnings before interest and taxes | (76.7) | % | 145.2 | % | (5.5) | % | 37.4 | % | 26.0 | % | ||||||||
| Consolidated net loss and LAE ratio (LR) | 59.3 | % | 66.4 | % | 79.4 | % | 71.6 | % | 137.8 | % | ||||||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable (favorable) development on LR | 0.6 | % | 4.4 | % | (0.9) | % | 4.7 | % | 24.3 | % | ||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses on LR | 14.6 | % | 12.9 | % | 38.5 | % | 19.3 | % | 61.2 | % | ||||||||
| Underlying net loss and LAE ratio(1) | 44.1 | % | 49.1 | % | 41.8 | % | 47.6 | % | 52.3 | % |
(1) Underlying net loss and LAE Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to the Consolidated net loss and LAE Ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Personal Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax losses attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $376,597,000 to a pretax loss of $481,153,000, compared to a pretax loss of $104,556,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in pretax net loss was primarily due to a $291,387,000 decrease in gross written premiums, as described below, and a $183,088,000 increase in losses and LAE during 2022, driven by the impact of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane and exhausting our personal lines reinsurance coverage for the event. We also experienced a $29,172,000 decrease in realized investment gains, as described below. These drivers were partially offset by a $18,283,000 decrease in policy acquisition costs and $11,734,000 decrease in operating costs year-over-year, as described below.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $291,387,000, or 32.1%, to $615,820,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $907,207,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily reflecting the transition of the Northeast business to HCPCI in the fourth quarter of 2021 and first half of 2022, and the transition of the Southeast business to HCPCI in the second half of 2022. In addition, decreases across all regions are seen due to the underwriting actions taken during 2021 and 2022. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in direct written premiums by region are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written Premium By Region(1) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 381,387 | $ | 439,645 | $ | (58,258) | |||||
| Gulf | 158,899 | 217,604 | (58,705) | ||||||||
| Northeast | 32,769 | 158,217 | (125,448) | ||||||||
| Southeast | 42,765 | 91,741 | (48,976) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 615,820 | $ | 907,207 | $ | (291,387) |
(1) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas; "Northeast" is comprised of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York in 2022 and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island in 2021; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We are no longer writing in New Jersey as of January 15, 2022, Massachusetts as of April 1, 2022, South Carolina as of June 1, 2022, Georgia as of October 1, 2022 and North Carolina as of December 1, 2022 as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By Region(2) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 136,456 | 206,366 | (69,910) | ||||||
| Gulf | 67,514 | 113,884 | (46,370) | ||||||
| Northeast | 113,884 | 33,596 | 122,723 | (89,127) | |||||
| Southeast | 24,598 | 60,376 | (35,778) | ||||||
| Total | 262,164 | 503,349 | (241,185) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
(2) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas; "Northeast" is comprised of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York in 2022 and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island in 2021; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We are no longer writing in New Jersey as of January 15, 2022, Massachusetts as of April 1, 2022, South Carolina as of June 1, 2022, Georgia as of October 1, 2022 and North Carolina as of December 1, 2022 as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $66,362,000, or 11.4%, to $515,264,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $581,626,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease is primarily driven by a $65,755,000 decrease in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. This decrease can be attributed to the transition of our Northeast and Southeast business to HCPCI, resulting in lower cessions to the associated quota share contracts in 2022. In addition, our cessions to our external contracts decreased in 2022 as the result of the decrease in gross written premium described above.
Net investment income attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $865,000, or 9.7%, to $8,097,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $8,962,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease is driven by a $3,304,000 decrease in income from our fixed maturity investment portfolio as a result of a decrease in the size of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2022. This was partially offset by increased income on our cash equivalents of $1,976,000 as a result of increased holdings, and a decrease in investment related expenses of $292,000.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Net realized investment gains (losses) and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $35,555,000, or 662.5%, to a net loss of $30,188,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from a net gain of $5,367,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by $22,718,000 of impairment losses realized on our fixed maturity portfolio. The remainder of this change can be attributed to rising interest rates and unfavorable market conditions in 2022 resulting in unrealized losses on our investment portfolio still held of $4,617,000 during 2022 and realized losses on our portfolio sold during 2022 of $2,853,000.
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased $157,504,000, or 28.1%, to $717,316,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $559,812,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane and exhausting our personal lines reinsurance coverage for the event. This was partially offset by decreased policy acquisition and operating costs, described below. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 550,504 | $ | 367,416 | $ | 183,088 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 72.5 | % | 36.8 | % | 35.7 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 225.9 | % | 88.2 | % | 137.7 | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 239,805 | $ | 104,210 | $ | 135,595 | ||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable (favorable) development | 120,535 | 32,209 | 88,326 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 190,164 | $ | 230,997 | $ | (40,833) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 25.1 | % | 23.1 | % | 2.0 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 78.0 | % | 55.5 | % | 22.5 | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s personal lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 75,093 | $ | 93,376 | $ | (18,283) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 39,270 | 51,004 | (11,734) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 52,318 | 47,927 | 4,391 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 166,681 | $ | 192,307 | $ | (25,626) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 22.0 | % | 19.3 | % | 2.7 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 68.4 | % | 46.2 | % | 22.2 | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our personal lines operating segment increased by $183,088,000, or 49.8%, to $550,504,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $367,416,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 137.7 points to 225.9% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 88.2% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2022 would have been 25.1%, an increase of 2.0 points from 23.1% during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $18,283,000, or 19.6%, to $75,093,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $93,376,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The primary driver of the decrease in costs was decreased agent commissions, premium taxes, and policy administration fees of $22,455,000, $7,427,000 and $4,042,000, respectively, which fluctuated in conjunction with the year-over-year decrease in
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
written premium described above. This was partially offset by decreased ceding commission income of $17,075,000 related primarily to our quota share reinsurance agreements.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $11,734,000, or 23.0%, to $39,270,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $51,004,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to decreased expenses related to our investment in technology of $9,413,000. In addition, underwriting expenses decreased $2,692,000, driven by the decrease in written premiums described above.
General and administrative expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment increased by $4,391,000, or 9.2%, to $52,318,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $47,927,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, as the result of impairment of goodwill attributable to our personal lines operating segment of $13,569,000. This was partially offset by a decrease in salary related expenses of $9,244,000 attributable to a reduction in payroll taxes attributable to an employee retention tax credit refund for taxes previously paid and recognized as an expense by the company, as well as a reduction in headcount in 2022.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax earnings attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $3,820,000 to pretax income of $35,841,000, compared to pretax income of $32,021,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in pretax earnings was primarily due to an increase in revenue driven by increased gross written premium described below. This increase was partially offset by increased loss & LAE expense for the year as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $86,005,000, or 20.4%, to $508,243,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $422,238,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily reflecting the impact of rate increases on renewal business generated in the state of Florida, as we focus on increasing commercial written premiums and transitioning to a specialty commercial lines underwriter. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in premiums written in Texas and South Carolina as we are no longer writing business in these states. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by state are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By State | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 503,815 | $ | 413,066 | $ | 90,749 | |||||
| Texas | 3,887 | 7,409 | (3,522) | ||||||||
| South Carolina | 15 | 1,447 | (1,432) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by region | $ | 507,717 | $ | 421,922 | $ | 85,795 | |||||
| Assumed premium (1) | 526 | 316 | 210 | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 508,243 | $ | 422,238 | $ | 86,005 |
(1) Assumed premium written for 2022 and 2021 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By State | 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 5,497 | 6,131 | (634) | |||||
| Texas | 32 | 99 | (67) | |||||
| South Carolina | 2 | 30 | (28) | |||||
| Total | 5,531 | 6,260 | (729) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal commercial policies written during the year.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $8,237,000 or 3.5%, to $245,293,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $237,056,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily driven by a $8,621,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements, driven by the increase in gross written premium, described above resulting in increased cessions to these contracts during 2022.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Net investment income attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $1,097,000, or 23.0%, to $5,861,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $4,764,000 for 2021. This increase is driven by a $999,000 increase in income from our cash and cash equivalent holdings, as a result of increased holdings year-over-year.
Net realized investment gains and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $9,914,000, or 689.9%, to a net loss of $8,477,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 from a net gain of $1,437,000 for 2021, primarily driven by the disposal of fixed maturities to meet liquidity needs during an unfavorable price environment, resulting in realized losses of $6,511,000 in 2022. The remainder of this change can be attributed to unrealized losses as a result of unfavorable market conditions experienced in 2022.
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased $34,256,000, or 23.2%, to $181,644,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $147,388,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in loss and LAE as a result of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane. In addition, general and administrative costs increased $1,980,000 in 2022, as described below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 87,143 | $ | 54,718 | $ | 32,425 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 18.8 | % | 13.3 | % | 5.5 | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 39.8 | % | 31.6 | % | 8.2 | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 43,385 | $ | 9,530 | $ | 33,855 | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (7,899) | (4,353) | (3,546) | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 51,657 | $ | 49,541 | $ | 2,116 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 11.1 | % | 12.1 | % | (1.0) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 23.6 | % | 28.6 | % | (5.0) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s commercial lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 80,996 | $ | 80,198 | $ | 798 | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 3,926 | 4,873 | (947) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 9,579 | 7,599 | 1,980 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 94,501 | $ | 92,670 | $ | 1,831 | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 20.4 | % | 22.6 | % | (2.2) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 43.2 | % | 53.5 | % | (10.3) | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $32,425,000, or 59.3%, to $87,143,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $54,718,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums increased 8.2 points to 39.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 31.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2022 would have been 11.1%, a decrease of 1.0 point from 12.1% during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to our commercial lines operating segment remained relatively flat, increasing by $798,000, or 1.0%, to $80,996,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $80,198,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $947,000, or 19.4%, to $3,926,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $4,873,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to decreased expenses related to our investment in technology of $1,164,000.
General and administrative expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $1,980,000, or 26.1%, to $9,579,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from $7,599,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was driven by a $1,131,000 increase of allocated external fees related to legal, audit, actuarial and tax services provided during the year. In addition, we incurred an additional $698,000 in allocated salary expenses in 2022 compared to 2021.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K.
Investments
The primary goals of our investment strategy are to preserve capital, maximize after-tax investment income, maintain liquidity and minimize risk. To accomplish our goals, we purchase debt securities in sectors that represent the most attractive relative value, and we maintain a moderate equity exposure. Limiting equity exposure manages risks and helps to preserve capital for two reasons: first, bond market returns are less volatile than stock market returns, and second, should the bond issuer enter bankruptcy liquidation, bondholders generally have a higher priority than equity holders in a bankruptcy proceeding. Our investment strategy is the same for both our personal lines and commercial lines operating segments.
We must comply with applicable state insurance regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentrations of investments our insurance subsidiaries can make; therefore, our current investment policy limits investment in non-investment-grade fixed maturities and limits total investment amounts in preferred stock, common stock and mortgage notes receivable. We do not invest in derivative securities. Large catastrophe losses such as Hurricane Ian in 2022 can present significant liquidity demands to the Company stemming from higher than normal frequency and severity of insurance claims. This can lead to the selling of securities that we intended to hold until maturity and realizing untimely gains or losses.
Two outside asset management companies, which have authority and discretion to buy and sell securities for us, manage our investments subject to (i) the guidelines established by our Board of Directors and (ii) the direction of management. The Investment Committee of our Board of Directors reviews and approves our investment policy on a regular basis.
Our cash and investment portfolios totaled $715,721,000 at December 31, 2022 compared to $964,844,000 at December 31, 2021.
The following table summarizes our investments, by type:
| December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | ||||||||||
| U.S. government and agency securities | $ | 34,011 | 4.8 | % | $ | 49,340 | 5.1 | % | |||||
| Foreign governments | 1,330 | 0.2 | % | 3,459 | 0.4 | % | |||||||
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 51,779 | 7.2 | % | 79,896 | 8.3 | % | |||||||
| Public utilities | 14,688 | 2.1 | % | 25,457 | 2.6 | % | |||||||
| Corporate securities | 141,634 | 19.8 | % | 244,443 | 25.3 | % | |||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | 99,964 | 14.0 | % | 186,740 | 19.4 | % | |||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 32,126 | 4.5 | % | 70,162 | 7.3 | % | |||||||
| Redeemable preferred stocks | 931 | 0.1 | % | 4,105 | 0.4 | % | |||||||
| Total fixed maturities | 376,463 | 52.7 | % | 663,602 | 68.8 | % | |||||||
| Mutual fund | 35,485 | 5.0 | % | 33,064 | 3.4 | % | |||||||
| Public utilities | 551 | 0.1 | % | — | — | % | |||||||
| Non-redeemable preferred stocks | 2,984 | 0.4 | % | 4,894 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Total equity securities | 39,020 | 5.5 | % | 37,958 | 3.9 | % | |||||||
| Other investments | 16,628 | 2.3 | % | 18,006 | 1.9 | % | |||||||
| Total investments | 432,111 | 60.5 | % | 719,566 | 74.6 | % | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 229,893 | 32.0 | % | 212,024 | 22.0 | % | |||||||
| Restricted cash | 53,717 | 7.5 | % | 33,254 | 3.4 | % | |||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments | $ | 715,721 | 100.0 | % | $ | 964,844 | 100.0 | % |
We classify all of our investments as available-for-sale. Our investments at December 31, 2022 and 2021 consisted mainly of U.S. government and agency securities, states, municipalities and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and securities of investment-grade corporate issuers. Our equity holdings in 2022 and 2021 consisted mainly of securities issued by
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
companies in the financial, utilities and industrial sectors or mutual funds. Most of the corporate bonds we hold reflected a similar diversification. At December 31, 2022, approximately 84.4% of our fixed maturities were U.S. Treasuries, or corporate bonds rated “A” or better, and 15.6% were corporate bonds rated “BBB” or “BB”.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, as a result of UPC’s plan of run-off, management determined that it was more likely than not that we would be required to sell a portion or all of our fixed-income securities attributable to the entity before recovery of their amortized cost basis. These securities were evaluated and none of the unrealized loss position was the result of a credit loss. As a result, we realized impairment losses of $22,718,000 on these securities. Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) was not impacted by such charge; however, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 worsened and other comprehensive income improved by $22,718,000, before tax impacts, in offsetting amounts. The remainder of our fixed-income securities remain in an unrealized position as of December 31, 2022, with net unrealized losses on the portfolio totaling $33,054,000 as of December 31, 2022.
The most significant impact of COVID-19 on our business occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020, where we saw fluctuations in our investment portfolio due to volatility in the equity securities markets that we were unable to predict. During the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020, we decreased our equity portfolio from 9.1% of our total invested assets (including cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents) at June 30, 2020 to 0.6% of our total invested assets (including cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents) at December 31, 2020. As a result of this decrease, we experienced a decreased impact from fluctuations in the equity securities markets on our financial statements for the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, we began to increase our investments in the equities market. Management is working closely with our investment managers to monitor the fluctuations in the markets and the corresponding impact to our portfolios.
Reinsurance
We follow industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or “ceding”, all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain primarily liable for the entire insured loss under the policies we write.
Our reinsurance program is designed, utilizing our risk management methodology, to address our exposure to catastrophes. According to the Insurance Service Office (ISO), a catastrophe loss is defined as a single unpredictable incident or series of closely related incidents that result in $25,000,000 or more in U.S. industry-wide direct insured losses to property and that affect a significant number of policyholders and insurers (ISO catastrophes). In addition to ISO catastrophes, we also include as catastrophes those events (non-ISO catastrophes), which may include losses, that we believe are, or will be, material to our operations which we define as incidents that result in $1,000,000 or more in losses for multiple policyholders.
During the second quarter of 2022, we placed our reinsurance program for the 2022 hurricane season. We purchased catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance protection of $2,500,000,000 in the aggregate. The treaties reinsure personal and commercial lines property excess catastrophe losses caused by multiple perils including hurricanes and tropical storms. The agreements were effective as of June 1, 2022, for a one-year term and incorporate the mandatory coverage required by and placed with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) and coverage required under the Reinsurance to Assist Policyholders Program (RAP Program). The FHCF and RAP Program covers Florida risks only and we participate at 90%. Under our core catastrophe excess of loss treaty, retention on a first and second event is $16,400,000. During the third quarter, one of our reinsurer's participating on the $25,000,000 excess of $20,000,000 layer of the core catastrophe program exercised a contractual right to terminate their participation due to Demotech's downgrade of UPC's Financial Stability Rating. We were unsuccessful in replacing this coverage in the open market so our captive reinsurer, UPC Re, stepped into the $25,000,000 excess of $20,000,000 layer which was subsequently impacted by Hurricane Ian resulting in an additional retained loss of $20,100,000 million. The exhaustion point of IIC's catastrophe reinsurance program is approximately $200,000,000 in the aggregate, with a retention of $3,000,000 per occurrence, covering all perils.
During the third quarter of 2022, the Company's core catastrophe reinsurance program was impacted by Hurricane Ian. As a result, the Company has approximately $508 million of occurrence limit remaining for Ian, all of which is attributable to ACIC only. After reinstatement premiums of approximately $15.4 million, the Company has approximately $993 million of aggregate limit remaining after Ian, based on our estimated ultimate net loss subject to the core catastrophe reinsurance program.
Effective December 13, 2021, we renewed our all other perils (AOP) catastrophe excess of loss agreement. The agreement provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes up to $110,000,000.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
During the third quarter of 2022, one of our private reinsurers who held a 100% share of the $15,000,000 in excess of $15,000,000 layer on our all other perils catastrophe excess of loss agreement notified us of their intent to terminate the agreement due to the contractual provision regarding the change in UPC's statutory surplus being greater than 25%. We agreed to a termination and commutation date of September 30, 2022 for this contract. This change resulted in approximately $1,300,000 of ceded premium savings that would have otherwise been due in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the Company retaining all the risk for any non-hurricane catastrophe losses up to $30,000,000, excluding any quota share recoveries.
The table below outlines our quota share agreements in effect for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
| Reinsurer | Companies in Scope (1) | Effective Dates | Cession Rate | States in Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & ACIC | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 10% (2) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| TypTap | UPC | 06/01/2022 - 06/01/2023 | 100% (3) | Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & ACIC | 12/31/2021 - 12/31/2022 | 8% (2) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| HCPCI | UPC | 12/31/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 85% | Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| External third-party | UPC & FSIC | 12/31/2021 - 12/31/2022 | 25% (4) | Florida, Louisiana, Texas |
| HCPCI / TypTap (5) | UPC | 06/01/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 100% (3) | Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & ACIC (6) | 06/01/2021 - 06/01/2022 | 15% (2) | Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas |
| IIC | UPC | 12/31/2020 - 12/31/2022 | 100% | New York |
| HCPCI | UPC | 12/31/2020 - 06/01/2021 | 69.5% | Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & ACIC | 12/30/2020 - 12/31/2021 | 8% (2) | Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas |
| External third-party | UPC, FSIC & ACIC (6) | 06/01/2020 - 06/01/2021 | 15% (2) | Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas |
| External third-party | UPC & FSIC | 06/01/2020 - 06/01/2021 | 7.5% (2) | Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas |
(1) Effective May 31, 2022, FSIC was merged into UPC, with UPC being the surviving entity.
(2) This treaty provides coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses incurred. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreement provides ground-up protection effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
(3) This treaty provides coverage on our in-force, new and renewal policies until these states are transitioned to HCPCI or TypTap upon renewal.
(4) This treaty provides coverage on non-catastrophe losses on policies in-force on the effective date of the agreement.
(5) Cessions are split 50% to HCPCI and 50% to TypTap.
(6) This treaty was amended effective December 31, 2020 to include ACIC.
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-at-Risk | (2.2) | % | (2.1) | % | ||
| Quota Share | (23.8) | (24.8) | ||||
| All Other | (36.1) | (31.3) | ||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (62.1) | % | (58.2) | % |
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
| Personal | Commercial | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||
| Non-at-Risk | (3.3) | % | (2.9) | % | (0.5) | % | (0.2) | % | ||||
| Quota Share | (29.1) | (28.7) | (15.3) | (15.1) | ||||||||
| All Other | (35.5) | (26.7) | (37.2) | (42.5) | ||||||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (67.9) | % | (58.3) | % | (53.0) | % | (57.8) | % |
Please note that the sum of the percentages above will not reconcile to the consolidated percentages as they are calculated using each operating segments’ gross earned premium rather than our consolidated gross earned premium.
We amortize our ceded unearned premiums over the annual agreement period, and we record that amortization in ceded premiums earned on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The table below summarizes the amounts of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share (1) | $ | (115,290) | $ | (294,570) | $ | (306,331) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (404,196) | (545,128) | (412,220) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (4,023) | (1,562) | (13,801) | |||||||||||
| Flood and inland flood | (19,445) | (23,465) | (23,517) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (542,954) | $ | (864,725) | $ | (755,869) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (217,603) | 46,043 | 114,552 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (760,557) | $ | (818,682) | $ | (641,317) |
(1) 2022 and 2021 quota share ceded written premium includes our quota share agreements with HCPCI and Typtap.
The breakdown of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the tables below. These values can be reconciled to the table above.
Personal Lines Operating Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share (1) | $ | (62,280) | $ | (219,293) | $ | (284,886) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (236,089) | (373,419) | (222,107) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (1,754) | (811) | (11,724) | |||||||||||
| Flood and inland flood | (19,445) | (23,465) | (23,517) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (319,568) | $ | (616,988) | $ | (542,234) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (195,696) | 35,362 | 95,394 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (515,264) | $ | (581,626) | $ | (446,840) |
(1) 2022 and 2021 quota share ceded written premium includes our quota share agreements with HCPCI and Typtap.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | (53,010) | (75,277) | (21,445) | |||||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (168,107) | (171,709) | (190,113) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security | (2,269) | (751) | (2,077) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (223,386) | $ | (247,737) | $ | (213,635) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | (21,907) | 10,681 | 19,158 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (245,293) | $ | (237,056) | $ | (194,477) |
Current year catastrophe losses disaggregated between named and numbered storms and all other catastrophe loss events are shown in the following table.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 203,896 | 44.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 38 | 79,294 | 17.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 40 | $ | 283,190 | 61.2 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 7 | $ | 35,872 | 6.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 40 | 77,868 | 13.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 47 | $ | 113,740 | 19.3 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 13 | $ | 208,157 | 27.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 35 | 86,380 | 11.3 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 48 | $ | 294,537 | 38.5 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
The impact of the current year catastrophes to our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the table below. Please note that the catastrophe events may have impacted both operating segments. As a result, the sum of the number of events in the tables below will not reconcile to the consolidated number of events above. In addition, the combined ratio impact is calculated and sum of the ratios in the tables below will not reconcile to the ratios above.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Personal Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 160,723 | 66.0 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 38 | 79,082 | 32.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 40 | $ | 239,805 | 98.4 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 7 | $ | 35,715 | 8.6 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 40 | 68,495 | 16.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 47 | $ | 104,210 | 25.0 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 13 | $ | 191,473 | 33.6 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 33 | 78,402 | 13.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 46 | $ | 269,875 | 47.3 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 2 | $ | 43,173 | 19.7 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 7 | 212 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 9 | $ | 43,385 | 19.8 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 158 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 4 | 9,372 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 8 | $ | 9,530 | 5.5 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 8 | $ | 16,684 | 8.5 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 9 | 7,978 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 17 | $ | 24,662 | 12.6 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
See Note 9 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our reinsurance program.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustments
We generally use the term “loss(es)” to collectively refer to both loss and LAE. We establish reserves for both reported and unreported unpaid losses that have occurred at or before the balance sheet date for amounts we estimate we will be required to pay in the future, including provisions for claims that have been reported but are unpaid at the balance sheet date and for obligations on claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date. Our policy is to establish these loss reserves after considering all information known to us at each reporting period. At any given point in time, our loss reserve represents our best estimate of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of our insured claims incurred and unpaid.
Unpaid losses and LAE totaled $1,946,938,000 and $1,084,450,000 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Of this total, $816,489,000 and $230,377,000 is related to our commercial lines operating segment, respectively. The remaining $1,130,449,000 and $854,073,000 is related to our personal lines operating segment, respectively. On a consolidated basis, this balance has increased year over year, driven by Hurricane Ian which made landfall in Florida as a category four hurricane during the third quarter of 2022. While we did have a higher frequency of storms in 2021, the severity of Hurricane Ian resulted in a year over year increase. Reinsurance recoverables also increased year over year due to the cession of these Hurricane Ian losses to our core catastrophe reinsurance program.
Since the process of estimating loss reserves requires significant judgment due to a number of variables, such as fluctuations in inflation, judicial decisions, legislative changes and changes in claims handling procedures, our ultimate liability will likely differ from these estimates. We revise our reserve for unpaid losses as additional information becomes available, and reflect adjustments, if any, in our earnings in the periods in which we determine the adjustments as necessary.
See Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our losses and LAE.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generate cash through premium collections, reinsurance recoveries, investment income, the sale or maturity of invested assets, the issuance of debt and the issuance of additional shares of our stock. We use our cash to pay reinsurance premiums, claims and related costs, policy acquisition costs, salaries and employee benefits, other expenses and stockholder dividends, acquire subsidiaries and pay associated costs, as well as to repay debts and purchase investments.
As a holding company, we do not conduct any business operations of our own and, as a result, we rely on cash dividends or intercompany loans from our management subsidiaries to pay our general and administrative expenses. Insurance regulatory authorities heavily regulate our insurance subsidiaries, including restricting any dividends paid by our insurance subsidiaries and requiring approval of any management fees our insurance subsidiaries pay to our management subsidiaries for services rendered; however, nothing restricts our non-insurance company subsidiaries from paying us dividends other than state corporate laws regarding solvency. Our management subsidiaries pay us dividends primarily using cash from the collection of management fees from our insurance subsidiaries, pursuant to the management agreements in effect between those entities. In accordance with state laws, our insurance subsidiaries may pay dividends or make distributions out of that part of their statutory surplus derived from their net operating profit and their net realized capital gains. The RBC guidelines published by the NAIC may further restrict our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions if the amount of the intended dividend or distribution would cause their respective surplus as it regards policyholders to fall below minimum RBC guidelines. See Note 15 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Part II, Item 5 for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we contributed $81,000,000 and $11,200,000 to our insurance subsidiaries, UPC and FSIC, respectively. The contribution made to FSIC was made prior to the merging of FSIC into UPC. In addition, we contributed $9,574,000 to our reinsurance subsidiary, UPC Re. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we contributed $17,000,000, $8,000,000 and $17,500,000 to our insurance subsidiaries, UPC, FSIC, and ACIC, respectively. We may make future contributions of capital to our insurance subsidiaries as circumstances require.
During 2022, we received a dividend of $26,000,000 from ACIC. During February 2021, we received a dividend of $3,500,000 from IIC. During February 2020, we received a dividend of $12,000,000 from IIC.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
On December 13, 2017, we issued $150,000,000 of senior notes (Senior Notes) that will mature on December 15, 2027 and bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum payable semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2018. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. We may redeem the Senior Notes at our option, at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon from the date of redemption to the date that is three months prior to maturity. On and after that date, we may redeem the Senior Notes at par. On December 8, 2022, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC announced a downgrade of our issuer and debt ratings BBB- to BB+. As a result, pursuant to our agreement, the interest rate of our Senior notes increased from 6.25% to 7.25% effective on the next Interest Payment date of June 15, 2023.
As a result of claim activity from the current and prior years, we have an obligation related to the unpaid policyholder losses and unpaid loss adjustment expenses associated with the settling of these claims. As of December 31, 2022, our total obligation related to these claim payments was $1,946,938,000, of which we estimate $874,255,000 to be short-term in nature (due in less than twelve months), based upon our cumulative claims paid over the last 22 years. While we believe that historical performance of loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in this estimated projected settlement, and as a result these estimates will differ, perhaps significantly, from actual future payments.
In addition to our unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, as of December 31, 2022 we have outstanding debt obligations related to our notes payable totaling $154,118,000. This is exclusive of interest costs, which we estimate will total $54,669,000 over the life of the debt, based on the current fixed and variable interest rates of these notes. Our short-term obligation related to these notes payable total $1,176,000 in principal payments and $11,015,000 in estimated interest payments. For more information regarding these outstanding notes, please see Note 11.
In connection with entering into contracts with our outside vendors, we have minimum obligations due to our vendors over the life of the contracts. Our main vendor obligations are related to underwriting tools, claims and policy administration systems, and software used by our information technology department in their daily operations. Our total obligation related to these three categories of obligations are $1,285,000, $2,200,000, and $6,250,000, respectively. Of these obligations, $597,000, $1,763,000, and $1,250,000, respectively are short-term in nature.
As described in Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements below, substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within the twelve-month period subsequent to the date that these consolidated financial statements are issued. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis that assumes the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liability and commitments in the ordinary course of business.
Management’s strategic plans include the following:
•Working with the DFS to finalize a memorandum of understanding on how to allocate all shared reinsurance recoveries between UPCIC and ACIC;
•Providing additional information to our rating agencies for the affirmation of the Company’s current financial ratings;
•Successfully renewing our catastrophe reinsurance programs for ACIC and IIC effective June 1, 2023; and
•Exploring raising additional capital for ACIC, including in the form of surplus note contributions, to strengthen its statutory risk-based capital if necessary.
If the Company is unable to implement these actions, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the necessary amounts of additional capital to continue as a going concern. As of the date of this report we do not have any commitments from any source to provide such additional capital. Even if we are able to secure debt or equity financing, it may be unavailable in the amounts or time when we require. Furthermore, such financing would likely take the form of bank loans, surplus notes, private placement of debt or equity securities or some combination of these. The issuance of additional equity securities would dilute the stock ownership of current investors while incurring loans, surplus notes or other debt would increase our capital requirements and a possible loss of valuable assets if such obligations were not repaid in accordance with their terms.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows from our operating activities come from premium collections, reinsurance recoveries and investment income. The principal cash outflows from our operating activities are the result of claims and related costs, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition costs and salaries and employee benefits. A primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is the risk of large magnitude catastrophe events.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, several balance sheet items were impacted by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in the state of Florida as a category four hurricane. Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense increased during the period, driven by the severity of Hurricane Ian. This was partially offset by increased reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses during the period, as these losses were ceded to our core catastrophe reinsurance contracts. However, the severity of Hurricane Ian resulted in the exhausting of our personal lines operating segment reinsurance coverage for the event, resulting in a net increase of $228,240,000 year-over-year. In addition to this event, unearned premiums, ceded unearned premiums, and reinsurance payable on premiums all decreased year over year, driven by the transition of our northeast and southeast business in 2022, and continued underwriting actions taken in 2022. These actions resulted in lower gross written premiums and premiums ceded to our quota share contracts.
Investing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our investing activities come from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of investments. We closely monitor and manage these risks through our comprehensive investment risk management process. The principal cash outflows relate to purchases of investments and cost of property, equipment and capitalized software acquired. Additional cash outflows relate to the purchase of fixed assets. The primary liquidity concerns with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors and market disruption. During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by investing activities decreased $14,562,000 as the result of net sales of investments totaling $218,646,000 in 2022, compared to $256,648,000 in 2021. This was partially offset by $21,236,000 in proceeds from the sale of assets in 2022.
Financing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our financing activities come from issuances of debt and other securities. The principal cash outflows come from repayments of debt and payments of dividends. The primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is market disruption in the cost and availability of credit. We believe our current capital resources, together with cash provided from our operations, are sufficient to meet currently anticipated working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in financing activities increased by $13,184,000 due to a return of capital to Kiln of $18,335,000 as a result of the stock re-purchase agreement and termination agreements effective June 30, 2022. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2022 we repaid our Truist note in full, resulting in a $3,004,000 increase in repayments for the year. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in dividend payments of $7,761,000 since no dividends were declared in the second, third or fourth quarter of 2022.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Please refer to Note 2(u) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards that may affect us.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:
•reserves for unpaid losses,
•fair value of investments,
•investment portfolio credit allowances, and
•goodwill.
In making these determinations, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance industry. It is reasonably likely that changes in these estimates could occur from time to time and result in a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prescribes when we may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, our results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish a reserve for a major contingency. Therefore, the results we report in certain accounting periods may appear to be volatile and past results may not be indicative of results in future periods.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and LAE
Reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the most significant accounting estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements. These reserves represent management’s best estimate of the amount we will ultimately pay for losses and we base the amount upon the application of various actuarial reserve estimation techniques as well as considering other material facts and circumstances known at the balance sheet date.
As discussed in Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we determine our ultimate losses by using multiple actuarial methods to determine an actuarial estimate within a relevant range of indications that we calculate using generally accepted actuarial techniques. Our selection of the actuarial estimate is influenced by the analysis of our historical loss and claims experience since inception. For each accident year, we estimate the ultimate incurred losses for both reported and unreported claims. In establishing this estimate, we reviewed the results of various actuarial methods discussed in Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
As of September 30, 2022, very little paid loss or case loss information was available related to Hurricane Ian. As a result, actuarial methodologies relied upon catastrophe model estimates as provided by catastrophe model vendors. The Company selected within the reasonable range of catastrophe model estimates at September 30, 2022. However, as of December 31, 2022, paid loss and case loss information was sufficient to establish additional methodologies, including paid loss & loss adjustment expense development, reported loss & loss adjustment expense development, case reserve development, claims decay analysis, paid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense B-F method, and reported loss & loss adjustment expense B-F method. These additional methodologies at December 31, 2022 supplemented the original catastrophe model estimates and pointed to a larger range of outcomes than considered at September 30, 2022. The Company adjusted the selection at December 31, 2022 in consideration of the larger range considering all available methodologies.
Fair Value of Investments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We are responsible for the determination of fair value of
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financial assets and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We use quoted prices from active markets and we use an independent third-party valuation service to assist us in determining fair value. We obtain only one single quote or price for each financial instrument.
As discussed in Note 4 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we value our investments at fair value using quoted prices from active markets, to the extent available. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. We also have investments in limited partnerships that require us to use the net asset value per share method of valuation to determine fair value.
See “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for more information regarding the sensitivity of our fixed maturity portfolio to changes in interest rates.
Investment Portfolio Credit Allowances
For investments classified as available for sale, the difference between fair value and cost or amortized cost for fixed income securities is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and is not reflected in our net loss of any period until reclassified to net loss upon the consummation of a transaction with an unrelated third party. We have a portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be impaired as the result of a credit loss.
For each fixed-income security in an unrealized loss position, if we determine that we intend to sell the security or that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the cost or amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity needs, contractual or regulatory requirements, the security's entire decline in fair value is recorded in earnings.
If our management decides not to sell the fixed-income security and it is more likely than not that we will not be required
to sell the fixed-income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has
resulted from credit losses or other factors. This is typically indicated by a change in the rating of the security assigned by a
rating agency, and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security or industry, among other factors. If the assessment
indicates that a credit loss may exist, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to
the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized
cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses will be recorded in earnings. Credit loss is limited to the
difference between a security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. Any additional impairment not recorded through an
allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive loss.
If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings. The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive loss. If we determine that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, we may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.
Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 (ASU 2016-01) as of January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, including impairment write-downs, being recognized in the revenue section of our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
See Note 2(b) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our credit loss testing.
Measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment
Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested
for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate,
indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. We test goodwill for impairment by performing a
quantitative assessment. Goodwill is impaired when it is determined that the carrying value of a reporting segment is in excess of the fair value of that reporting segment. The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments.
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Please refer to Note 2(k) and Note 8 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001401521-22-000010.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. The following discussion provides an analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for 2021 as compared to 2020. Discussion regarding our results of operations and financial condition for 2020 as compared to 2019 is included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
OVERVIEW
United Insurance Holding Corp. is a holding company primarily engaged in residential personal and commercial property and casualty insurance business with investments in the United States. We conduct our business principally through four wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries and one majority-owned insurance subsidiary: United Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPC); American Coastal Insurance Company (ACIC); Family Security Insurance Company, Inc. (FSIC); Interboro Insurance Company (IIC); and Journey Insurance Company (JIC). Collectively, we refer to the holding company and all our subsidiaries, including non-insurance subsidiaries, as “UPC Insurance,” which is the preferred brand identification for our Company.
Our Company’s primary source of revenue is generated from writing insurance in Florida, Louisiana, New York and Texas. The Company also writes policies in Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina where renewal rights have been sold and all premiums and losses are ceded. Effective January 1, 2021, we no longer write in the state of Hawaii. Effective December 1, 2021, we no longer write in the states of Connecticut or Rhode Island. We are also licensed to write property and casualty insurance in an additional six states; however, we have not commenced writing in these states. Our target market in such areas consists of states where the perceived threat of natural catastrophe has caused large national insurance carriers to reduce their concentration of policies. We believe an opportunity exists for UPC Insurance to write profitable business in such areas.
Our Company, together with wholly-owned subsidiaries UPC and United Insurance Management, L.C. (UIM), entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement (Southeast Renewal Agreement), dated as of December 30, 2021 with Homeowners Choice Property and Casualty, Inc. (HCPCI), pursuant to which our Company, UPC and UIM agreed to sell, and HCPCI agreed to purchase, the renewal rights to UPC’s personal lines homeowners business in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The transfer of policies is subject to regulatory approval. The sale was consummated on December 30, 2021.
Effective December 31, 2021, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI in connection with the Southeast Renewal Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, we will cede 85% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. When coupled with the 15% cessions from our third-party quota share reinsurance agreement, we will no longer retain any risk associated with these states.
Our Company, together with wholly-owned subsidiaries UPC and UIM, entered into a Renewal Rights Agreement (Northeast Renewal Agreement), dated as of January 18, 2021 with HCPCI and HCI Group, Inc. (HCI), pursuant to which our Company, UPC and UIM agreed to sell, and HCPCI agreed to purchase, the renewal rights to UPC’s personal lines homeowners business in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The transfer of Massachusetts and New Jersey policies is subject to regulatory approval. The sale was consummated on January 18, 2021. The transfer of Rhode Island and Connecticut policies was completed as of December 31, 2021.
Effective June 1, 2021, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI and TypTap Insurance Company (TypTap) in connection with the Northeast Renewal Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, we will cede 100% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The cession of these policies is 50% to HCPCI and 50% to TypTap. As the transfer of each state is completed under the Northeast Renewal Agreement, the quota share coverage for the transitioned state will no longer be in effect.
We have historically grown our business through strong organic growth complemented by strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisitions of AmCo Holding Company (AmCo) and its subsidiaries, including ACIC, in April 2017, IIC in April 2016, and Family Security Holdings, LLC (FSH), including its subsidiary FSIC in February 2015, and our strategic partnership with a subsidiary of Tokio Marine Kiln Group Limited (Kiln), which formed JIC in August 2018. During
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
2021, our policies in-force has decreased by 25.2% from 630,991 policies in-force at December 31, 2020 to 471,724 policies in-force at December 31, 2021.
Our business is subject to the impact of weather-related catastrophes on our loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE). Over the last three years, the frequency of these catastrophes has increased. As a result, we have experienced increased catastrophe losses incurred during the prior three years. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, seven, thirteen, and five named storms, respectively, made landfall in our geographic footprint, resulting in retained pre-tax catastrophe losses of $35,872,000, $208,157,000, and $32,170,000, respectively. In addition, during each of the three years we increased our loss and LAE reserves as a result of development trends from 2017’s Hurricane Irma, that indicated our ultimate gross loss estimate should be increased.
The following discussion highlights significant factors influencing the consolidated financial position and results of operations of UPC Insurance. In evaluating our results of operations, we use premiums written and earned, policies in-force and new and renewal policies by geographic concentration. We also consider the impact of catastrophe losses and prior year development on our loss ratios, expense ratios and combined ratios. In monitoring our investments, we use credit quality, investment income, cash flows, realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses, asset diversification and portfolio duration. To evaluate our financial condition, we consider our liquidity, financial strength, ratings, book value per share and return on equity.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
| REVENUE: | |||||||||||
| Gross premiums written | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | 1,456,863 | $ | 1,380,268 | |||||
| Change in gross unearned premiums | 78,998 | (49,883) | (46,742) | ||||||||
| Gross premiums earned | 1,408,443 | 1,406,980 | 1,333,526 | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | (818,682) | (641,317) | (581,126) | ||||||||
| Net premiums earned | 589,761 | 765,663 | 752,400 | ||||||||
| Net investment income | 13,772 | 24,125 | 30,145 | ||||||||
| Net realized gains | 3,567 | 66,691 | 1,228 | ||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities | 3,237 | (27,562) | 24,761 | ||||||||
| Other revenue | 24,190 | 17,739 | 16,582 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 634,527 | 846,656 | 825,116 | ||||||||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 422,134 | 608,316 | 499,493 | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | 173,574 | 236,002 | 238,268 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 56,257 | 52,876 | 44,310 | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 57,212 | 72,057 | 65,989 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 9,391 | 9,582 | 9,781 | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 718,568 | 978,833 | 857,841 | ||||||||
| Loss before other income | (84,041) | (132,177) | (32,725) | ||||||||
| Other income | 184 | 74 | 119 | ||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (83,857) | (132,103) | (32,606) | ||||||||
| Benefit for income taxes | (23,989) | (36,605) | (3,121) | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (59,868) | $ | (95,498) | $ | (29,485) | |||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (1,949) | 956 | 387 | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to UIHC | $ | (57,919) | $ | (96,454) | $ | (29,872) | |||||
| Net loss per diluted share | $ | (1.35) | $ | (2.25) | $ | (0.70) | |||||
| Book value per share | $ | 7.20 | $ | 9.19 | $ | 11.69 | |||||
| Return on equity based on GAAP net loss | (16.9) | % | (20.2) | % | (5.6) | % | |||||
| Loss ratio, net (1) | 71.6 | % | 79.4 | % | 66.4 | % | |||||
| Expense ratio (2)(5) | 48.7 | % | 47.1 | % | 46.3 | % | |||||
| Combined ratio (3)(5) | 120.3 | % | 126.5 | % | 112.7 | % | |||||
| Effect of current year catastrophe losses on combined ratio | 19.3 | % | 38.5 | % | 0.385 | 12.9 | % | ||||
| Effect of prior year development on combined ratio | 4.7 | % | (0.9) | % | 4.4 | % | |||||
| Underlying combined ratio(4)(5) | 96.3 | % | 88.9 | % | 95.4 | % |
(1) Loss ratio, net is calculated as losses and LAE net of losses ceded to reinsurers, relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our loss trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate this component separately from our other operating expenses.
(2) Expense ratio is calculated as the sum of all operating expenses less interest expense relative to net premiums earned. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our expense trends and believes it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately from our loss expenses.
(3) Combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio, net and expense ratio. Management uses this operating metric to analyze our total expense trends and believes it is a key indicator for investors when evaluating the overall profitability of our business.
(4) Underlying combined ratio, a measure that is not based on GAAP, is reconciled above to the combined ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures”, below.
(5) Included in both the expense ratio and the combined ratio is amortization expense predominately associated with the AmCo, IIC, and FSH acquisitions, which cause comparative differences among periods.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
DEFINITIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
We believe that investors’ understanding of UPC Insurance’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of the following non-GAAP measures. Our methods for calculating these measures may differ from those used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
Combined ratio excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying combined ratio) is a non-GAAP measure, that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year development from the combined ratio. We believe that this ratio is useful to investors, and it is used by management to highlight the trends in our business that may be obscured by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development. Current year catastrophe losses cause our loss trends to vary significantly between periods as a result of their frequency of occurrence and magnitude, and can have a significant impact on the combined ratio. Prior year development is caused by unexpected loss development on historical reserves. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is the combined ratio. The underlying combined ratio should not be considered as a substitute for the combined ratio and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
Net loss and LAE excluding the effects of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development (underlying loss and LAE) is a non-GAAP measure that is computed by subtracting the effect of current year catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development from net loss and LAE. We use underlying loss and LAE figures to analyze our loss trends that may be impacted by current year catastrophe losses and prior year development on our reserves. As discussed previously, these two items can have a significant impact on our loss trends in a given period. We believe it is useful for investors to evaluate these components both separately and in the aggregate when reviewing our performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss and LAE. The underlying loss and LAE measure should not be considered a substitute for net loss and LAE and does not reflect the overall profitability of our business.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
Net loss attributable to UIHC for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased by $38,535,000 to $57,919,000, compared to $96,454,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in net losses was primarily driven by a $186,182,000 decrease in loss & LAE expense for the year. This was driven by our decision to lower the retention related of our Core Catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2021-2022 hurricane season coupled with a lower frequency of catastrophic weather activity when compared to 2020 and an increase in ceded losses to our quota share reinsurance program. This was partially offset by a decrease in revenue, driven by a $127,418,000 decrease in gross written premiums as described below. In addition, the company experienced a $177,365,000 increase in ceded premium earned as the result of the changes to the Company’s quota share reinsurance agreements described below, as well as a decrease in realized investments gains in 2021.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums decreased by $127,418,000, or 8.7%, to $1,329,445,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $1,456,863,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, driven primarily by a decline in written premiums across our personal lines business, due to underwriting actions taken at the end of 2020 and throughout 2021. In addition, we experienced a decrease in assumed premiums due to the termination of a contract which included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by region and gross written premium by line of business are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By Region (1) | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 852,711 | $ | 829,777 | $ | 22,934 | |||||
| Gulf | 225,013 | 258,064 | (33,051) | ||||||||
| Northeast | 158,217 | 197,556 | (39,339) | ||||||||
| Southeast | 93,188 | 126,161 | (32,973) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by region | $ | 1,329,129 | $ | 1,411,558 | $ | (82,429) | |||||
| Assumed premium (2) | 316 | 45,305 | (44,989) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | 1,456,863 | $ | (127,418) | |||||
| Gross Written Premium by Line of Business | |||||||||||
| Personal property (3) | $ | 907,207 | $ | 1,063,599 | $ | (156,392) | |||||
| Commercial property | 422,238 | 393,264 | 28,974 | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by line of business | $ | 1,329,445 | $ | 1,456,863 | $ | (127,418) |
(1) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas in 2021 and Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas in 2020; "Northeast" is comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. As of December 1, 2021, we are no longer writing in Connecticut or Rhode Island as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
(2) Assumed premium written for 2021 and 2020 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
(3) Includes gross written premium from flood policies.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By Region(2) | 2021 | 2020 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 212,497 | 264,001 | (51,504) | |||||
| Gulf | 113,983 | 150,748 | (36,765) | |||||
| Northeast | 122,723 | 147,079 | (24,356) | |||||
| Southeast | 60,406 | 98,086 | (37,680) | |||||
| Total | 509,609 | 659,914 | (150,305) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner, commercial and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
(2) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas in 2021 and Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas in 2020; "Northeast" is comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. As of December 1, 2021, we are no longer writing in Connecticut or Rhode Island as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
Ceded premiums earned increased by $177,365,000, or 27.7%, to $818,682,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $641,317,000 for 2020. The increase is primarily driven by a $163,713,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
quota share agreements. We entered into additional quota share reinsurance agreements effective December 31, 2020, which increased our ceding percentage overall and was modified to provide coverage to ACIC. In addition, effective December 31, 2020 we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI for our Northeast business, excluding New York, as a part of our renewal rights agreement.
Net investment income decreased by $10,353,000, or 42.9%, to $13,772,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $24,125,000 for 2020. The decrease is driven by a $8,905,000 decrease in income from our fixed maturity investment portfolio as a result of lower yields as well as a decrease in the size of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2021. Our equity securities have also produced lower returns during the year ended December 31, 2021, driven by decreased holdings during 2021, as the result of our decision to dispose of our equity portfolio at the end of 2020, causing a $1,460,000 decrease in net investment income.
Net realized investment gains and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities decreased by $32,325,000, or 82.6%, to a net gain of $6,804,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from a net gain of $39,129,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily driven by the disposal of our equity portfolio and the sale and reinvestment of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2020, during a favorable price environment, in efforts to mitigate potential surplus declines from market volatility for each of our insurance subsidiaries.
Expenses
Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased $260,265,000, or 26.6%, to $718,568,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $978,833,000 for 2020. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of increased cessions in 2021 to our Core Catastrophe and quota share reinsurance programs, as well as a lower frequency of catastrophe activity during 2021. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 422,134 | $ | 608,316 | $ | (186,182) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 30.0 | % | 43.2 | % | (13.2) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 71.6 | % | 79.4 | % | (7.8) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 113,740 | $ | 294,537 | $ | (180,797) | ||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable development | 27,856 | (6,786) | 34,642 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 280,538 | $ | 320,565 | $ | (40,027) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 19.9 | % | 22.8 | % | (2.9) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 47.6 | % | 41.8 | % | 5.8 | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 173,574 | $ | 236,002 | $ | (62,428) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 56,257 | 52,876 | 3,381 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 57,212 | 72,057 | (14,845) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 287,043 | $ | 360,935 | $ | (73,892) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 20.4 | % | 25.7 | % | (5.3) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 48.7 | % | 47.1 | % | 1.6 | pts |
Loss and LAE decreased by $186,182,000, or 30.6%, to $422,134,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $608,316,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums
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decreased 7.8 points to 71.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 79.4% for the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we experienced increased non-catastrophe cessions as a result of the changes to our quota share agreements at the end of 2020 and during 2021. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2020 there was a higher frequency of catastrophe events when compared to 2021. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2021 would have been 19.9%, a decrease of 2.9 points from 22.8% during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Policy acquisition costs decreased by $62,428,000, or 26.5%, to $173,574,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $236,002,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary driver of the decrease in expense was an increase in ceding commission income of $63,661,000 related to our quota share reinsurance agreements. In addition, there was a $11,678,000 decrease in expenses incurred, such as premium taxes and agent commission expenses, which fluctuate in conjunction with the year over year decrease in written premium. This was partially offset by an $18,576,000 increase in external management fees incurred during 2021 as the result of an increased volume of commercial written premium year over year.
Operating and underwriting expenses increased by $3,381,000, or 6.4%, to $56,257,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $52,876,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to increased expenses related to our investment in technology of $7,271,000. This was partially offset by a $3,092,000 decrease in agent incentive costs in 2021 as we have discontinued our agent incentive program. We also experienced decreases in travel expenses of $289,000 due to the lack of company travel during 2021 as a result of the continued effects of the coronavirus pandemic and decreases in office overhead expenses of $378,000 in 2021 driven by our shift to a remote work environment.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $14,845,000, or 20.6%, to $57,212,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $72,057,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to a $8,215,000 decrease in salary related expenses driven by an increase in the allocation of claims adjustment payroll related costs to loss & LAE from general and administrative expenses in 2021. In addition, in 2020 we incurred $2,763,000 in expenses related to the discontinuation of plans to build new headquarters, an expense which is non-recurring in 2021.
We experienced adverse reserve development in the current year and its historical impact on our net loss and net underlying loss ratios is outlined in the following table.
| Historical Reserve Development | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($ in thousands, except ratios) | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Prior year reserve favorable (unfavorable) development | $ | 2,613 | $ | (4,318) | $ | (33,134) | $ | 6,786 | $ | (27,856) | ||||||||
| Development as a % of earnings before interest and taxes | 62.9 | % | (76.7) | % | 145.2 | % | (5.5) | % | 37.4 | % | ||||||||
| Consolidated net loss and LAE ratio (LR) | 62.4 | % | 59.3 | % | 66.4 | % | 79.4 | % | 71.6 | % | ||||||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable (favorable) development on LR | (0.4) | % | 0.6 | % | 4.4 | % | (0.9) | % | 4.7 | % | ||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses on LR | 19.8 | % | 14.6 | % | 12.9 | % | 38.5 | % | 19.3 | % | ||||||||
| Underlying net loss and LAE ratio(1) | 43.0 | % | 44.1 | % | 49.1 | % | 41.8 | % | 47.6 | % |
(1) Underlying net loss and LAE Ratio is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled above to the Consolidated net loss and LAE Ratio, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
40
UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Personal Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax earnings attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $30,541,000 to a pretax loss of $104,556,000, compared to a pretax loss of $135,097,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in pretax net loss was primarily due to a $148,803,000 decrease in losses and LAE during 2021, driven by increased cessions to our core catastrophe reinsurance program and quota share reinsurance agreements. We also experienced a $44,350,000 decrease in policy acquisition costs year over year due to increased ceding commission income. This was partially offset by a $153,778,000 decrease in net premiums earned, driven by decreases in gross written premiums as well as increased ceded premiums earned in 2021.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $156,393,000, or 14.7%, to $907,207,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $1,063,600,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily reflecting the impact of our underwriting actions taken at the end of 2020 and during 2021. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by region are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By Region(1) | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 439,645 | $ | 485,487 | $ | (45,842) | |||||
| Gulf | 217,604 | 255,185 | (37,581) | ||||||||
| Northeast | 158,217 | 197,556 | (39,339) | ||||||||
| Southeast | 91,741 | 125,372 | (33,631) | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by region | $ | 907,207 | $ | 1,063,600 | $ | (156,393) | |||||
| Assumed premium | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 907,207 | $ | 1,063,600 | $ | (156,393) |
(1) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas in 2021 and Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas in 2020; "Northeast" is comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. As of December 1, 2021, we are no longer writing in Connecticut or Rhode Island as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By Region(2) | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 206,366 | 257,880 | (51,514) | ||||||
| Northeast | 113,884 | 122,723 | 147,079 | (24,356) | |||||
| Gulf | 113,884 | 147,079 | 150,716 | (36,832) | |||||
| Southeast | 60,376 | 98,071 | (37,695) | ||||||
| Total | 503,349 | 653,746 | (150,397) |
(1) Only includes new and renewal homeowner and dwelling fire policies written during the year.
(2) "Gulf" is comprised of Louisiana and Texas in 2021 and Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas in 2020; "Northeast" is comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island; and "Southeast" is comprised of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. As of December 1, 2021, we are no longer writing in Connecticut or Rhode Island as the policies have transitioned to HCPCI.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our personal lines operating segment increased by $134,786,000, or 30.2%, to $581,626,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $446,840,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily driven by a $101,722,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from our quota share agreements. Effective December 31, 2020, we modified our existing and entered into a new quota share agreement which increased our overall ceding percentage. In addition, effective December 31, 2020 we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI for our northeast business, excluding New York, as a part of our renewal rights agreement. In addition to these quota share changes, we also experienced an increase in our ceded earned premiums related to our catastrophe reinsurance agreements of $35,957,000 as we added more coverage to the program.
Net investment income attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $6,761,000, or 43.0%, to $8,962,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $15,723,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease is driven by a $6,049,000 decrease in income from our fixed maturity investment portfolio as a result of lower yields as well as a decrease in the size of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2021. In addition to this decrease we also experienced lower returns from our equity securities driven by a decrease in our holdings during 2021, causing a $946,000 decrease in net investment income.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Net realized investment gains and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $17,349,000, or 76.4%, to a net gain of $5,367,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from a net gain of $22,716,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily driven by the disposal of our equity portfolio and the sale and reinvestment of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2020, during a favorable price environment, in efforts to mitigate potential surplus declines from market volatility for each of our insurance subsidiaries.
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased $201,862,000, or 26.5%, to $559,812,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $761,674,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE of $148,803,000, as a result of increased cessions to our core catastrophe and quota share reinsurance programs, as well as a lower frequency of catastrophe activity during 2021. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 367,416 | $ | 516,219 | $ | (148,803) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 36.8 | % | 50.8 | % | (14.0) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 88.2 | % | 90.5 | % | (2.3) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 104,210 | $ | 269,875 | $ | (165,665) | ||||
| Prior year reserve unfavorable (favorable) development | 32,209 | (7,587) | 39,796 | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 230,997 | $ | 253,931 | $ | (22,934) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 23.1 | % | 25.0 | % | (1.9) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 55.5 | % | 44.5 | % | 11.0 | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s personal lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 93,376 | $ | 137,726 | $ | (44,350) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 51,004 | 49,255 | 1,749 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 47,927 | 58,385 | (10,458) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 192,307 | $ | 245,366 | $ | (53,059) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 19.3 | % | 24.1 | % | (4.8) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 46.2 | % | 43.0 | % | 3.2 | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $148,803,000, or 28.8%, to $367,416,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $516,219,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 2.3 points to 88.2% for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 90.5% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2021 would have been 23.1%, a decrease of 1.9 points from 25.0% during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $44,350,000, or 32.2%, to $93,376,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $137,726,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary driver of the decrease in costs was an increase in ceding commission income related primarily to our quota share reinsurance agreements of $28,507,000. In addition, we also experienced decreases in various other expenses such as agent commissions and policy admin fees due to decreased written premiums year over year, as described above.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment increased by $1,749,000, or 3.6%, to $51,004,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $49,255,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to increased expenses related to our investment in technology of $6,680,000, partially offset by a decrease in agent costs of $3,087,000, driven by the discontinuation of our agent incentive program in 2021, as well as a $2,452,000 decrease in underwriting expenses such as inspection costs and underwriting reports, driven by the decrease in our written premiums in 2021.
General and administrative expenses attributable to our personal lines operating segment decreased by $10,458,000, or 17.9%, to $47,927,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $58,385,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to decreased salary and benefit related costs of $8,361,000 driven by an increase in the allocation of claims adjustment payroll related costs to loss & LAE from general and administrative expenses in 2021.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Results
Pretax earnings attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $16,073,000 to pretax income of $32,021,000, compared to pretax income of $15,948,0000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in pretax earnings was primarily due to a decrease in our loss & LAE expense in 2021 of 37,379,000, driven by increased cessions to our core catastrophe reinsurance program in 2021 compared to 2020 and cessions to our quote share reinsurance agreements which were modified to include ACIC effective December 31, 2020. In addition, we also experienced an $18,078,000 decrease in policy acquisition costs, which can be attributed to ceding commission income in 2021 from our quota share agreements. These decreases were offset by a $22,123,000 decrease in net premiums earned in 2021 driven by increased ceded premium earned year over year.
Revenues
Our gross written premiums attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $28,975,000, or 7.4%, to $422,238,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $393,263,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily reflecting the impact of rate increases as well as organic growth in renewal business generated. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in assumed premiums of $44,989,000 or 99.3%, due to the termination of a contract which included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers. The breakdown of the year-over-year changes in both direct and assumed written premiums by state are shown in the table below.
| Direct Written and Assumed Premium By State | 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $ | 413,066 | $ | 344,289 | $ | 68,777 | |||||
| Texas | 7,409 | 2,879 | 4,530 | ||||||||
| South Carolina | 1,447 | 790 | 657 | ||||||||
| Total direct written premium by region | $ | 421,922 | $ | 347,958 | $ | 73,964 | |||||
| Assumed premium (1) | 316 | 45,305 | (44,989) | ||||||||
| Total gross written premium by region | $ | 422,238 | $ | 393,263 | $ | 28,975 |
(1) Assumed premium written for 2021 and 2020 primarily included commercial property business assumed from unaffiliated insurers.
| New and Renewal Policies(1) By State | 2021 | 2020 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6,131 | 6,121 | 10 | |||||
| Texas | 99 | 32 | 67 | |||||
| South Carolina | 30 | 15 | 15 | |||||
| Total | 6,260 | 6,168 | 92 |
(1) Only includes new and renewal commercial policies written during the year.
Ceded premiums earned attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $42,579,000 or 21.9%, to $237,056,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $194,477,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is primarily driven by a $61,991,000 increase in ceded premiums earned from adding ACIC to our quota share agreements, offset by a decrease in our catastrophe reinsurance agreements ceded premiums earned of $18,050,000. Effective December 31, 2020, our quota share agreements were modified to increase our ceding percentage and include ACIC. In the prior year we had no ceded premium earned related to quota share reinsurance agreements.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Net investment income attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $3,118,000, or 39.6%, to $4,764,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $7,882,000 for 2020. The decrease is driven by a $2,544,000 decrease in income from our fixed maturity investment portfolio as a result of lower yields, as well as a decrease in the size of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2021. Our equity securities also produced lower returns during the year ended December 31, 2021, driven by a decrease in our holdings during 2021, causing a $219,000 decrease in net investment income.
Net realized investment gains and net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $12,817,000, or 89.9%, to a net gain of $1,437,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 from a net gain of $14,254,000 for 2020, primarily driven by the disposal of our equity portfolio and the sale and reinvestment of our fixed maturity portfolio in 2020, during a favorable price environment, in an effort to mitigate potential surplus declines from market volatility for each of our insurance subsidiaries.
Expenses
Expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased $54,138,000, or 26.9%, to $147,388,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $201,526,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a decrease in loss and LAE as a result of increased cessions in 2021 to our core catastrophe reinsurance program and cessions to our quote share reinsurance agreements which were modified to include ACIC effective December 31, 2020. In addition, we also experienced a lower frequency of catastrophe activity during 2021. The calculations of our combined loss ratios and underlying loss ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Net loss and LAE | $ | 54,718 | $ | 92,097 | $ | (37,379) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 13.3 | % | 23.6 | % | (10.3) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 31.6 | % | 47.1 | % | (15.5) | pts | ||||
| Less: | ||||||||||
| Current year catastrophe losses | $ | 9,530 | $ | 24,662 | $ | (15,132) | ||||
| Prior year reserve favorable development | (4,353) | 801 | (5,154) | |||||||
| Underlying loss and LAE (1) | $ | 49,541 | $ | 66,634 | $ | (17,093) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 12.1 | % | 17.1 | % | (5.0) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 28.6 | % | 34.1 | % | (5.5) | pts |
(1) Underlying loss and LAE is a non-GAAP financial measure and is reconciled above to net loss and LAE, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures presented in this Form 10-K can be found in the “Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures” section, above.
The calculations of the Company’s commercial lines operating segment expense ratios are shown below.
| ($ in thousands) | Year ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||
| Policy acquisition costs | $ | 80,198 | $ | 98,276 | $ | (18,078) | ||||
| Operating and underwriting | 4,873 | 3,440 | 1,433 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 7,599 | 7,685 | (86) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 92,670 | $ | 109,401 | $ | (16,731) | ||||
| % of Gross earned premiums | 22.6 | % | 28.1 | % | (5.5) | pts | ||||
| % of Net earned premiums | 53.5 | % | 56.0 | % | (2.5) | pts |
Loss and LAE attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $37,379,000, or 40.6%, to $54,718,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $92,097,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Loss and LAE expense as a percentage of net earned premiums decreased 15.5 points to 31.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 47.1% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Excluding catastrophe losses and reserve development, our gross underlying loss and LAE ratio for the year ended December 31, 2021 would have been 12.1%, a decrease of 5.0 points from 17.1% during the year ended December 31, 2020.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Policy acquisition costs attributable to our commercial lines operating segment decreased by $18,078,000, or 18.4%, to $80,198,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $98,276,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary driver of the decrease in costs was an increase of $24,159,000 in ceding commission income related to our quota share reinsurance agreements. In addition, we experienced a decrease in ceding commission expenses related to our assumed premiums of $11,053,000 in 2021. This was offset by an increase in our external management fees paid of $18,606,000 as a result of increased written premium in 2021.
Operating and underwriting expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment increased by $1,433,000, or 41.7%, to $4,873,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $3,440,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to increased expenses related to our investment in technology of $1,226,000.
General and administrative expenses attributable to our commercial lines operating segment remained relatively flat, decreasing by $86,000, or 1.1%, to $7,599,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021, from $7,685,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K.
Investments
The primary goals of our investment strategy are to preserve capital, maximize after-tax investment income, maintain liquidity and minimize risk. To accomplish our goals, we purchase debt securities in sectors that represent the most attractive relative value, and we maintain a moderate equity exposure. Limiting equity exposure manages risks and helps to preserve capital for two reasons: first, bond market returns are less volatile than stock market returns, and second, should the bond issuer enter bankruptcy liquidation, bondholders generally have a higher priority than equity holders in a bankruptcy proceeding. Our investment strategy is the same for both our personal lines and commercial lines operating segments.
We must comply with applicable state insurance regulations that prescribe the type, quality and concentrations of investments our insurance subsidiaries can make; therefore, our current investment policy limits investment in non-investment-grade fixed maturities and limits total investment amounts in preferred stock, common stock and mortgage notes receivable. We do not invest in derivative securities.
Two outside asset management companies, which have authority and discretion to buy and sell securities for us, manage our investments subject to (i) the guidelines established by our Board of Directors and (ii) the direction of management. The Investment Committee of our Board of Directors reviews and approves our investment policy on a regular basis.
Our cash and investment portfolios totaled $964,844,000 at December 31, 2021 compared to $1,296,549,000 at December 31, 2020.
The following table summarizes our investments, by type:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | Estimated Fair Value | Percent of Total | ||||||||||
| U.S. government and agency securities | $ | 49,340 | 5.1 | % | $ | 130,425 | 10.1 | % | |||||
| Foreign governments | 3,459 | 0.4 | % | 1,516 | 0.1 | % | |||||||
| States, municipalities and political subdivisions | 79,896 | 8.3 | % | 134,382 | 10.4 | % | |||||||
| Public utilities | 25,457 | 2.6 | % | 29,980 | 2.3 | % | |||||||
| Corporate securities | 244,443 | 25.3 | % | 292,329 | 22.4 | % | |||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | 186,740 | 19.4 | % | 288,212 | 22.2 | % | |||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 70,162 | 7.3 | % | 56,657 | 4.4 | % | |||||||
| Redeemable preferred stocks | 4,105 | 0.4 | % | 6,510 | 0.5 | % | |||||||
| Total fixed maturities | 663,602 | 68.8 | % | 940,011 | 72.4 | % | |||||||
| Mutual fund | 33,064 | 3.4 | % | 152 | — | % | |||||||
| Non-redeemable preferred stocks | 4,894 | 0.5 | % | 7,293 | 0.6 | % | |||||||
| Total equity securities | 37,958 | 3.9 | % | 7,445 | 0.6 | % | |||||||
| Other investments | 18,006 | 1.9 | % | 47,595 | 3.7 | % | |||||||
| Total investments | 719,566 | 74.6 | % | 995,051 | 76.7 | % | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 212,024 | 22.0 | % | 239,420 | 18.5 | % | |||||||
| Restricted cash | 33,254 | 3.4 | % | 62,078 | 4.8 | % | |||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments | $ | 964,844 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,296,549 | 100.0 | % |
We classify all of our investments as available-for-sale. Our investments at December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted mainly of U.S. government and agency securities, states, municipalities and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and securities of investment-grade corporate issuers. Our equity holdings in 2021 and 2020 consisted mainly of securities issued by companies in the financial, utilities and industrial sectors or mutual funds. Most of the corporate bonds we hold reflected a similar diversification. At December 31, 2021, approximately 83.2% of our fixed maturities were U.S. Treasuries, or corporate bonds rated “A” or better, and 16.8% were corporate bonds rated “BBB” or “BB”.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
The most significant impact of COVID-19 on our business occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020, where we saw fluctuations in our investment portfolio due to volatility in the equity securities markets that we were unable to predict. During the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020, we decreased our equity portfolio from 9.1% of our total invested assets (including cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents) at June 30, 2020 to 0.6% of our total invested assets (including cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents) at December 31, 2020. As a result of this decrease, we experienced a decreased impact from fluctuations in the equity securities markets on our financial statements for the second half of the year ended December 31, 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, we began to increase our investments in the equities market. Management is working closely with our investment managers to monitor the fluctuations in the markets and the corresponding impact to our portfolios.
Reinsurance
We follow industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our risks. Reinsurance involves transferring, or “ceding”, all or a portion of the risk exposure on policies we write to another insurer, known as a reinsurer. To the extent that our reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations they assume under our reinsurance agreements, we remain primarily liable for the entire insured loss under the policies we write.
Our reinsurance program is designed, utilizing our risk management methodology, to address our exposure to catastrophes. According to the Insurance Service Office (ISO), a catastrophe loss is defined as a single unpredictable incident or series of closely related incidents that result in $25,000,000 or more in U.S. industry-wide direct insured losses to property and that affect a significant number of policyholders and insurers (ISO catastrophes). In addition to ISO catastrophes, we also include as catastrophes those events (non-ISO catastrophes), which may include losses, that we believe are, or will be, material to our operations which we define as incidents that result in $1,000,000 or more in losses for multiple policyholders.
Effective December 31, 2021, we entered into a structured quota share agreement. This structured quota share reinsurance agreement has a cession rate of 25% and covers UPC and FSIC’s non-catastrophe losses on policies in-force on the effective date of the agreement.
Effective December 31, 2021, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI. Under the terms of this agreement, we will cede 85% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. As a result, our 8% quota share agreement was modified to exclude these states, effective December 31, 2021.
Effective December 13, 2021, we renewed our all other perils (AOP) catastrophe excess of loss agreement. The agreement provides protection from catastrophe loss events other than named windstorms and earthquakes up to $110,000,000. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we ceded $91,223,000 under the contract period effective January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
Effective June 1, 2021, we entered into a quote share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI and TypTap. Under the terms of this agreement, we will cede 100% of our in-force, new, and renewal policies in the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The cession of these policies is 50% to HCPCI and 50% to TypTap. As a result, our 15% quota share and excess of loss agreements were modified to exclude policies in these states effective June 1, 2021. As the transfer of states is completed, the quota share coverage for the transitioned state will no longer be in effect.
During the second quarter of 2021, we placed our reinsurance program for the 2021 hurricane season. We purchased catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance protection of $2,900,000,000. The treaties reinsure personal and commercial lines property excess catastrophe losses caused by multiple perils including hurricanes and tropical storms. The agreements were effective as of June 1, 2021, for a one-year term and incorporate the mandatory coverage required by and placed with the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF). The FHCF covers Florida risks only and we participate at 90%. Under our core catastrophe excess of loss treaty and excess of loss aggregate treaty, retention on a first and second event is $15,000,000 each and retention on subsequent events total $1,000,000, resulting in a maximum retention of $31,000,000. Retentions for JIC are $4,000,000 for a first event and $1,000,000 for subsequent events, covering all perils. Retention for IIC is $3,000,000 per occurrence, covering all perils.
Effective December 31, 2020, we extended our quota share agreement that was set to expire on May 31, 2021. This quota share reinsurance agreement had a cession rate of 15% and 7.5% for all subject business and provides coverage for all catastrophe perils and attritional losses. The cession rate is comprised of a quota share cession of 15% which was renewed through May 31, 2022, which covers UPC, FSIC, and ACIC, a quota share cession of 8% which was renewed effective December 31, 2021 through December 31, 2022, with the remaining 7.5% covering UPC and FSIC only, which was
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
nonrenewed at June 1, 2021. For all catastrophe perils, the quota share agreements provide ground-up protection effectively reducing our retention for catastrophe losses.
In addition, effective June 1, 2021 our quota share agreements were modified to exclude policies in New York. This modification was made as the result of our 100% internal quota share agreement, effective June 1, 2021, which cedes 100% of UPC's in-force, new, and renewal policies in the state of New York to our subsidiary, IIC.
Effective December 31, 2020, we entered into a quota share reinsurance agreement with HCPCI, effective as of December 31, 2020. According to the terms of this reinsurance contract, UPC Insurance ceded and HCPCI assumed a 69.5% quota share of our personal lines homeowners business in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island on an in-force, new and renewal basis for the period from December 31, 2020 through May 31, 2021. This agreement was replaced by the 100% quota share agreement with HCPCI and TypTap.
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-at-Risk | (2.1) | % | (2.4) | % | ||
| Quota Share | (24.8) | % | (13.1) | % | ||
| All Other | (31.3) | % | (30.1) | % | ||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (58.2) | % | (45.6) | % |
Reinsurance costs as a percent of gross earned premium for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
| Personal | Commercial | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Non-at-Risk | (2.9) | % | (3.1) | % | (0.2) | % | (0.6) | % | ||||
| Quota Share | (28.7) | % | (18.2) | % | (15.1) | % | — | % | ||||
| All Other | (26.7) | % | (22.6) | % | (42.5) | % | (49.3) | % | ||||
| Total Ceding Ratio | (58.3) | % | (43.9) | % | (57.8) | % | (49.9) | % |
Please note that the sum of the percentages above will not reconcile to the consolidated percentages as they are calculated using each operating segments’ gross earned premium rather than our consolidated gross earned premium.
We amortize our ceded unearned premiums over the annual agreement period, and we record that amortization in ceded premiums earned on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. The table below summarizes the amounts of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (294,570) | $ | (306,331) | $ | (174,147) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (545,128) | (412,220) | (424,622) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security (1) | (1,562) | (13,801) | (13,379) | |||||||||||
| Flood and inland flood (1) | (23,465) | (23,517) | (21,127) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (864,725) | $ | (755,869) | $ | (633,275) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 46,043 | 114,552 | 52,149 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (818,682) | $ | (641,317) | $ | (581,126) |
(1) We began writing cyber security and inland flood policies in 2020.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
The breakdown of our ceded premiums written under the various types of agreements, as well as the amortization of ceded unearned premiums for our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the tables below. These values can be reconciled to the table above.
Personal Lines Operating Segment
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (219,293) | $ | (284,886) | $ | (174,147) | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (373,419) | (222,107) | (233,575) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security (1) | (811) | (11,724) | (11,036) | |||||||||||
| Flood and inland flood (1) | (23,465) | (23,517) | (21,128) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (616,988) | $ | (542,234) | $ | (439,886) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 35,362 | 95,394 | 35,614 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (581,626) | $ | (446,840) | $ | (404,272) |
(1) We began writing cyber security and inland flood policies in 2020.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Quota Share | $ | (75,277) | $ | (21,445) | $ | — | ||||||||
| Excess-of-loss | (171,709) | (190,113) | (191,047) | |||||||||||
| Equipment, identity theft, and cyber security (1) | (751) | (2,077) | (2,342) | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums written | $ | (247,737) | $ | (213,635) | $ | (193,389) | ||||||||
| Change in ceded unearned premiums | 10,681 | 19,158 | 16,535 | |||||||||||
| Ceded premiums earned | $ | (237,056) | $ | (194,477) | $ | (176,854) |
(1) We began writing cyber security in 2020.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Current year catastrophe losses disaggregated between named and numbered storms and all other catastrophe loss events are shown in the following table.
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 7 | $ | 35,872 | 6.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 40 | 77,868 | 13.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 47 | $ | 113,740 | 19.3 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 13 | $ | 208,157 | 27.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 35 | 86,380 | 11.3 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 48 | $ | 294,537 | 38.5 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 5 | $ | 32,170 | 4.3 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 32 | 64,705 | 8.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 37 | $ | 96,875 | 12.9 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
The impact of the current year catastrophes to our commercial lines and personal lines operating segments can be seen in the table below. Please note that the catastrophe events may have impacted both operating segments. As a result, the sum of the number of events in the tables below will not reconcile to the consolidated number of events above. In addition, the combined ratio impact is calculated and sum of the ratios in the tables below will not reconcile to the ratios above.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Personal Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 7 | $ | 35,715 | 8.6 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 40 | 68,495 | 16.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 47 | $ | 104,210 | 25.0 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 13 | $ | 191,473 | 33.6 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 33 | 78,402 | 13.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 46 | $ | 269,875 | 47.3 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 5 | $ | 29,477 | 5.5 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 32 | 48,217 | 9.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 37 | $ | 77,694 | 14.6 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Commercial Lines Operating Segment Impact
| Number of Events | Incurred Loss and Loss adjustment expense (LAE) (1) | Combined Ratio Impact | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 4 | $ | 158 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 4 | 9,372 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 8 | $ | 9,530 | 5.5 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 8 | $ | 16,684 | 8.5 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 9 | 7,978 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 17 | $ | 24,662 | 12.6 | % | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current period catastrophe losses incurred | ||||||||||||||||
| Named and numbered storms | 1 | $ | 2,693 | 1.2 | % | |||||||||||
| All other catastrophe loss events | 3 | 16,488 | 7.5 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total | 4 | $ | 19,181 | 8.7 | % |
(1) Incurred loss and LAE is equal to losses and LAE paid plus the change in case and incurred but not reported reserves. Shown net of losses ceded to reinsurers. Incurred loss and LAE and number of events includes the development on storms during the year in which it occurred.
See Note 9 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our reinsurance program.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustments
We generally use the term “loss(es)” to collectively refer to both loss and LAE. We establish reserves for both reported and unreported unpaid losses that have occurred at or before the balance sheet date for amounts we estimate we will be required to pay in the future, including provisions for claims that have been reported but are unpaid at the balance sheet date and for obligations on claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date. Our policy is to establish these loss reserves after considering all information known to us at each reporting period. At any given point in time, our loss reserve represents our best estimate of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of our insured claims incurred and unpaid.
Unpaid losses and LAE totaled $1,084,450,000 and $1,089,966,000 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Of this total, $230,377,000 and $349,882,000 is related to our commercial lines operating segment, respectively. The remaining $854,073,000 and $740,084,000 is related to our personal lines operating segment, respectively. On a consolidated basis, this balance has remained relatively flat year over year, despite decreased current year catastrophe losses incurred in 2021, driven by a decrease in the frequency of catastrophe activity in 2021. This decrease in activity is offset by the increase in severity of current year losses, driven primarily by Hurricane Ida which made landfall in the third quarter of 2021. Despite unpaid losses and LAE remaining flat year over year, we have seen an increase in our reinsurance recoverables year over year due to the decrease in our core catastrophe reinsurance program’s retention levels in 2021 and our increase in quota share cessions in 2021..
Since the process of estimating loss reserves requires significant judgment due to a number of variables, such as fluctuations in inflation, judicial decisions, legislative changes and changes in claims handling procedures, our ultimate liability will likely differ from these estimates. We revise our reserve for unpaid losses as additional information becomes available, and reflect adjustments, if any, in our earnings in the periods in which we determine the adjustments as necessary.
See Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our losses and LAE.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We generate cash through premium collections, reinsurance recoveries, investment income, the sale or maturity of invested assets, the issuance of debt and the issuance of additional shares of our stock. We use our cash to pay reinsurance premiums, claims and related costs, policy acquisition costs, salaries and employee benefits, other expenses and stockholder dividends, acquire subsidiaries and pay associated costs, as well as to repay debts and purchase investments.
As a holding company, we do not conduct any business operations of our own and, as a result, we rely on cash dividends or intercompany loans from our management subsidiaries to pay our general and administrative expenses. Insurance regulatory authorities heavily regulate our insurance subsidiaries, including restricting any dividends paid by our insurance subsidiaries and requiring approval of any management fees our insurance subsidiaries pay to our management subsidiaries for services rendered; however, nothing restricts our non-insurance company subsidiaries from paying us dividends other than state corporate laws regarding solvency. Our management subsidiaries pay us dividends primarily using cash from the collection of management fees from our insurance subsidiaries, pursuant to the management agreements in effect between those entities. In accordance with state laws, our insurance subsidiaries may pay dividends or make distributions out of that part of their statutory surplus derived from their net operating profit and their net realized capital gains. The RBC guidelines published by the NAIC may further restrict our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions if the amount of the intended dividend or distribution would cause their respective surplus as it regards policyholders to fall below minimum RBC guidelines. See Note 15 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Part II, Item 5 for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we contributed $17,000,000, $8,000,000 and $17,500,000 to our insurance subsidiaries, UPC, FSIC, and ACIC, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we contributed $12,000,000 and $3,000,000 to our insurance subsidiary, UPC, and reinsurance subsidiary, UPC Re, respectively. We may make future contributions of capital to our insurance subsidiaries as circumstances require.
During February 2021, we received a dividend of $3,500,000 from IIC. During February 2020, we received a dividend of $12,000,000 from IIC. During August 2019, we received a dividend of $13,579,000 from our insurance subsidiary ACIC. In 2019, the $1,764,000 dividend paid by IIC in 2018 was returned by UIHC.
On December 13, 2017, we issued $150,000,000 of senior notes (Senior Notes) that will mature on December 15, 2027 and bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum payable semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2018. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. We may redeem the Senior Notes at our option, at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon from the date of redemption to the date that is three months prior to maturity. On and after that date, we may redeem the Senior Notes at par.
As a result of claim activity from the current and prior years, we have an obligation related to the unpaid policyholder losses and unpaid loss adjustment expenses associated with the settling of these claims. As of December 31, 2021, our total obligation related to these claim payments was $1,084,450,000, of which we estimate $608,615,000 to be short-term in nature (due in less than twelve months), based upon our cumulative claims paid over the last 21 years. While we believe that historical performance of loss payment patterns is a reasonable source for projecting future claim payments, there is inherent uncertainty in this estimated projected settlement, and as a result these estimates will differ, perhaps significantly, from actual future payments.
In addition to our unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, as of December 31, 2021 we have outstanding debt obligations related to our notes payable totaling $158,559,000. This is exclusive of interest costs, which we estimate will total $65,629,000 over the life of the debt, based on the current fixed and variable interest rates of these notes. Our short-term obligation related to these notes payable total $1,523,000 in principal payments and $9,506,000 in estimated interest payments. For more information regarding these outstanding notes, please see Note 11.
In connection with entering into contracts with our outside vendors, we have minimum obligations due to our vendors over the life of the contracts. Our main vendor obligations are related to underwriting tools, claims and policy administration systems, and software used by our information technology department in their daily operations. Our total obligation related to these three categories of obligations are $2,370,000, $8,031,000, and $6,250,000, respectively. Of these obligations, $1,257,000, $5,940,000, and $1,250,000, respectively are short-term in nature.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, (in millions)
Operating Activities
The principal cash inflows from our operating activities come from premium collections, reinsurance recoveries and investment income. The principal cash outflows from our operating activities are the result of claims and related costs, reinsurance premiums, policy acquisition costs and salaries and employee benefits. A primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is the risk of large magnitude catastrophe events.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, several balance sheet items were impacted by our increased reinsurance coverage entered into at the end of 2020 and in 2021. Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses increased during the period, driven by our increased ceding on catastrophe losses related primarily to Hurricane Ida and increased quota share cessions. Ceded unearned premiums also increased, driven by the increase in ceded written premiums associated with these additional agreements. In addition to these items, we also saw a decrease in our unearned premium balance at December 31, 2021, driven by our decreased personal lines written premium in 2021 as the result of underwriting actions taken by the Company at the end of 2020 and throughout 2021.
Investing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our investing activities come from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of investments. We closely monitor and manage these risks through our comprehensive investment risk management process. The principal cash outflows relate to purchases of investments and cost of property, equipment and capitalized software acquired. Additional cash outflows relate to the purchase of fixed assets. The primary liquidity concerns with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors and market disruption. During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by investing activities increased $214,811,000 as the result of net sales of investments totaling $256,648,000 in 2021, compared to $47,414,000 in 2020.
Financing Activities
The principal cash inflows from our financing activities come from issuances of debt and other securities. The principal cash outflows come from repayments of debt and payments of dividends. The primary liquidity concern with respect to these cash flows is market disruption in the cost and availability of credit. We believe our current capital resources, together with cash provided from our operations, are sufficient to meet currently anticipated working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in financing activities increased by $552,000 due to a $588,000 increase year over year in cash outflows related to our repayment of our outstanding debt, offset by a $73,000 decrease year over year in our tax withholding payments related to the net settlement of equity awards.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Please refer to Note 2(v) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting standards that may affect us.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The most critical estimates include those used in determining:
•reserves for unpaid losses,
•fair value of investments,
•investment portfolio credit allowances, and
•goodwill.
In making these determinations, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance industry. It is reasonably likely that changes in these estimates could occur from time to time and result in a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP prescribes when we may reserve for particular risks, including litigation exposures. Accordingly, our results for a given reporting period could be significantly affected if and when we establish a reserve for a major contingency. Therefore, the results we report in certain accounting periods may appear to be volatile and past results may not be indicative of results in future periods.
Reserves for Unpaid Losses and LAE
Reserves for unpaid losses and LAE represent the most significant accounting estimate inherent in the preparation of our financial statements. These reserves represent management’s best estimate of the amount we will ultimately pay for losses and we base the amount upon the application of various actuarial reserve estimation techniques as well as considering other material facts and circumstances known at the balance sheet date.
As discussed in Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we determine our ultimate losses by using multiple actuarial methods to determine an actuarial estimate within a relevant range of indications that we calculate using generally accepted actuarial techniques. Our selection of the actuarial estimate is influenced by the analysis of our historical loss and claims experience since inception. For each accident year, we estimate the ultimate incurred losses for both reported and unreported claims. In establishing this estimate, we reviewed the results of various actuarial methods discussed in Note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value of Investments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We are responsible for the determination of fair value of financial assets and the supporting assumptions and methodologies. We use quoted prices from active markets and we use an independent third-party valuation service to assist us in determining fair value. We obtain only one single quote or price for each financial instrument.
As discussed in Note 4 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we value our investments at fair value using quoted prices from active markets, to the extent available. For securities for which quoted prices in active markets are unavailable, we use observable inputs such as quoted prices in inactive markets, quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, benchmark interest rates, broker quotes and other relevant inputs. We also have investments in limited partnerships that require us to use the net asset value per share method of valuation to determine fair value.
See “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for more information regarding the sensitivity of our fixed maturity portfolio to changes in interest rates.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.
Investment Portfolio Credit Allowances
For investments classified as available for sale, the difference between fair value and cost or amortized cost for fixed income securities is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and is not reflected in our net income (loss) of any period until reclassified to net income (loss) upon the consummation of a transaction with an unrelated third party. We have a portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be impaired as the result of a credit loss.
For each fixed-income security in an unrealized loss position, if we determine that we intend to sell the security or that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the cost or amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity needs, contractual or regulatory requirements, the security's entire decline in fair value is recorded in earnings.
If our management decides not to sell the fixed-income security and it is more likely than not that we will not be required
to sell the fixed-income security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has
resulted from credit losses or other factors. This is typically indicated by a change in the rating of the security assigned by a
rating agency, and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security or industry, among other factors. If the assessment
indicates that a credit loss may exist, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to
the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized
cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses will be recorded in earnings. Credit loss is limited to the
difference between a security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. Any additional impairment not recorded through an
allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income.
If the estimated recovery value is less than the amortized cost of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for the difference between the estimated recovery value and amortized cost is recorded in earnings. The portion of the unrealized loss related to factors other than credit remains classified in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If we determine that the fixed income security does not have sufficient cash flow or other information to estimate a recovery value for the security, we may conclude that the entire decline in fair value is deemed to be credit related and the loss is recorded in earnings.
Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01 (ASU 2016-01) as of January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value, including impairment write-downs, being recognized in the revenue section of our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.
See Note 2(b) in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our credit loss testing.
Measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment
Goodwill is the excess of cost over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested
for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as adverse changes in the business climate,
indicate that there may be justification for conducting an interim test. We test goodwill for impairment by performing a
qualitative assessment. If the assessment indicates that an impairment may exist, a quantitative assessment is performed. Goodwill is impaired when it is determined that the carrying value of a reporting unit is in excess of the fair value of that reporting unit. The valuation methodologies utilized are subject to key judgments and assumptions that are sensitive to change. Estimates of fair value are inherently uncertain and represent only management’s reasonable expectation regarding future developments.
Please refer to Note 2(k) and Note 8 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our measurement of Goodwill and Related Impairment.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Please refer to Note 16 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our related party transactions.
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UNITED INSURANCE HOLDINGS CORP.